The Ram Khamhaeng text, on a four sided stone stele, is now in the National Museum in Bangkok. I t supposedly contains the words of the king of that name and dates from late 13th century Siam ( now Thailand) as described by C.E. Hiram Woodward in his 2003 book The Art and Architecture of Thailand from Prehistoric Times through the13th Century It is of value as an important historical document as is shown by it being used to support Thailands successful 1991 proposal to have Sukhothai, in north central Thailand, granted status as a World Heritage site. Using a script that the king actually created, t he words make up the oldest extant inscription in the Thai language. This is the language of the central region around the modern capital Bangkok, though in other parts of the country variations are used.
It was set up in Sukhothai in 1292 or just after. At that time a this was a city with great political power within the country, and is generally considered by scholars to be the most important text in the Thai language. Thailand at the time was a mere outpost of the Cambodian empire. King Ram Khamhaeng had ascended to the throne in about 1279.
At this period Thailand was at war with Cambodia. At the age of 19, together with his father, Ram Khamhaeng had successfully invaded of the city of Sukhothai (city) Sukhothai, freeing it from Cambodian rule and setting up the beginnings of the independent Sukhothai kingdom. His name is derived from the Hindu hero Rama.With the death of his brother, King Ban Muang, in about 1279, Ramkhamhaeng came to rule a tiny kingdom consisting of only a few hundred square miles. During the next twenty years Over the next two decades power and influence were extended as far as Laos, west to Burma and to the south to the Malay-Peninsula o Malay Peninsula Malay Peninsula. He was able to unite the kingdom under one shared religion, Thervada Buddhism combined with hostility toward Cambodian rule which had previously dominated the area.
Traditionally the king is credited with developing the Thai alphabet Thai alphabet using Sanskrit, Grantha script Grantha scripts. His reasoning was that he wanted Thais to break away from any Mon and Khmer influence. It is also claimed that it was he who established the countrys religion as Theravada Buddhism.
The stone is said to have been found 1833 by King Mongkut o Mongkut Mongkut, who was at that time a Buddist monk.There have been some doubts voiced about authenticity as there are no other written references to the king.
David Van Praagh in 1996 described life at the time-
In the Buddhist land of Sukothai, where Thais first tasted freedom, royal benevolence was the rule.
He backs this up by quoting the kings words from the inscribed stone -
If people are in good morality and have a high spirit by keeping steadfast to
Buddhism and adhering to Dhamma the teaching of the Buddha, the nation
will be tranquil and prosperous.
The stone has been described as equivalent to Magna Carta, which King John sealed in England in roughly the same period and to the American Bill of Rights which came some four hundred years later. In both those cases though it was the people, or their representatives , who decided upon the wording, rather than a monarch.
The inscription from so long ago reflects several universal values shared by states in the world today such as the need for good governance and the rule of law. Mention is made of economic freedom and morality, in this case according to Buddhist values.
The stele begins though as a personal autobiography. He goes on to describe a thriving land, with free trade and good agriculture, fishing etc. His description is almost idyllic. He describes various religious ceremonies, including the use of fireworks, and with, many people, including monks, taking part. There then follows a detailed account of the city and its surroundings, followed by a list of foreigners, allies who come and bow down before the king.
There is also a description of how and why the Thai alphabet, on which modern day Thai is based, came into being.
The Chiang Mai Chronicle, as described by John Walsh, tells how he was born in a supernatural way. Such a description points to his elevated status in the Thai mind. As king of Sukothai, Ram Khamhaeng brought about a form of kingship that differed greatly from that of the Khmers (Cambodians) who were both very authoritarian and hierarchical.
But how authentic is the stele and its inscriptions Piriya Krairiksh, writing under the heading Towards a Revised History of Sukothai Art a Reassessment of the Inscription of King Ram Khamhaeng questions the authorship of the steel as the king does not describe named buildings in the city. He tells how by 1987 ethnologist Michael Vickery had taken the position that, until proven otherwise, the inscription, could be taken as from a later period than generally considered. On the other hand the late American historian David Wyatt in Contextual Arguments for the Authenticity of the Ramkhamhaeng Inscription takes an opposing view.Despite being well credited as an historian the reviewer of his 1985 book Thailand A Short History claims that he-
Adheres closely to the Thais official version of their history, even when this rests upon shaky evidence.
Attempts to decipher the inscription began in 1855. Both historians and linguists have had their say. Trirtat, a Thai teacher, in his blog states that the debate between two factions has been going on now for 10 years. The sides are those who believe the inscription to date form a period later than the 13th century, known as devils and those who claim it is exactly what it says it is , known as the angels. There are also those who say that the debate was just a waste of time, because if the stone did not prove to be authentic then early Thai history would have to be reconsidered. Trirat goes on to point out certain difficulties with the inscription Although it is supposed to be 700 years old most modern Thai readers would have no difficulty understanding it. He compares this to the vast differences between the English of Chaucer and modern times. Also the vowels are written level with the consonants something not found elsewhere in the regions languages.
Whoever is right the stone is naturally revered by modern day Thais who see it as reflecting a golden age and the king as a hero. Whatever problems the country may have to deal with they have before them an example of what was and what could be. Any ruler of Thailand will be measured against this great king from the past. To have the stone proved to be a forgery would therefore be a national tragedy.
It seems the king was a powerful personality. After his death there were changes, for none of his descendants managed to maintain the wide area of land, but the region was at least left with a sense of unity and of shared cultural identity.
With regard to the modern day Thailand is in an area of the world where, in the case of some countries near by such as Burma (Myanmar), or China to the North and North Korea not so very far away, an authoritarian regime is the norm. They are close to both Cambodia and Vietnam, countries which have been devastated by war in recent years. The stone expresses values and a way of life to be aimed at a country where people live in freedom and are able to make a reasonable living in peace and harmony with their neighbors and one where their king is benevolent, judicious and respected by all. Because it is in the Thai language it also expresses their freedom form foreign oppression. Mention is made on the stele of religious festivals which also serves to remind the people of their common religious heritage which is to be enjoyed.
It could be argued that the stone is necessary for the wellbeing of modern day Thailand.
It was set up in Sukhothai in 1292 or just after. At that time a this was a city with great political power within the country, and is generally considered by scholars to be the most important text in the Thai language. Thailand at the time was a mere outpost of the Cambodian empire. King Ram Khamhaeng had ascended to the throne in about 1279.
At this period Thailand was at war with Cambodia. At the age of 19, together with his father, Ram Khamhaeng had successfully invaded of the city of Sukhothai (city) Sukhothai, freeing it from Cambodian rule and setting up the beginnings of the independent Sukhothai kingdom. His name is derived from the Hindu hero Rama.With the death of his brother, King Ban Muang, in about 1279, Ramkhamhaeng came to rule a tiny kingdom consisting of only a few hundred square miles. During the next twenty years Over the next two decades power and influence were extended as far as Laos, west to Burma and to the south to the Malay-Peninsula o Malay Peninsula Malay Peninsula. He was able to unite the kingdom under one shared religion, Thervada Buddhism combined with hostility toward Cambodian rule which had previously dominated the area.
Traditionally the king is credited with developing the Thai alphabet Thai alphabet using Sanskrit, Grantha script Grantha scripts. His reasoning was that he wanted Thais to break away from any Mon and Khmer influence. It is also claimed that it was he who established the countrys religion as Theravada Buddhism.
The stone is said to have been found 1833 by King Mongkut o Mongkut Mongkut, who was at that time a Buddist monk.There have been some doubts voiced about authenticity as there are no other written references to the king.
David Van Praagh in 1996 described life at the time-
In the Buddhist land of Sukothai, where Thais first tasted freedom, royal benevolence was the rule.
He backs this up by quoting the kings words from the inscribed stone -
If people are in good morality and have a high spirit by keeping steadfast to
Buddhism and adhering to Dhamma the teaching of the Buddha, the nation
will be tranquil and prosperous.
The stone has been described as equivalent to Magna Carta, which King John sealed in England in roughly the same period and to the American Bill of Rights which came some four hundred years later. In both those cases though it was the people, or their representatives , who decided upon the wording, rather than a monarch.
The inscription from so long ago reflects several universal values shared by states in the world today such as the need for good governance and the rule of law. Mention is made of economic freedom and morality, in this case according to Buddhist values.
The stele begins though as a personal autobiography. He goes on to describe a thriving land, with free trade and good agriculture, fishing etc. His description is almost idyllic. He describes various religious ceremonies, including the use of fireworks, and with, many people, including monks, taking part. There then follows a detailed account of the city and its surroundings, followed by a list of foreigners, allies who come and bow down before the king.
There is also a description of how and why the Thai alphabet, on which modern day Thai is based, came into being.
The Chiang Mai Chronicle, as described by John Walsh, tells how he was born in a supernatural way. Such a description points to his elevated status in the Thai mind. As king of Sukothai, Ram Khamhaeng brought about a form of kingship that differed greatly from that of the Khmers (Cambodians) who were both very authoritarian and hierarchical.
But how authentic is the stele and its inscriptions Piriya Krairiksh, writing under the heading Towards a Revised History of Sukothai Art a Reassessment of the Inscription of King Ram Khamhaeng questions the authorship of the steel as the king does not describe named buildings in the city. He tells how by 1987 ethnologist Michael Vickery had taken the position that, until proven otherwise, the inscription, could be taken as from a later period than generally considered. On the other hand the late American historian David Wyatt in Contextual Arguments for the Authenticity of the Ramkhamhaeng Inscription takes an opposing view.Despite being well credited as an historian the reviewer of his 1985 book Thailand A Short History claims that he-
Adheres closely to the Thais official version of their history, even when this rests upon shaky evidence.
Attempts to decipher the inscription began in 1855. Both historians and linguists have had their say. Trirtat, a Thai teacher, in his blog states that the debate between two factions has been going on now for 10 years. The sides are those who believe the inscription to date form a period later than the 13th century, known as devils and those who claim it is exactly what it says it is , known as the angels. There are also those who say that the debate was just a waste of time, because if the stone did not prove to be authentic then early Thai history would have to be reconsidered. Trirat goes on to point out certain difficulties with the inscription Although it is supposed to be 700 years old most modern Thai readers would have no difficulty understanding it. He compares this to the vast differences between the English of Chaucer and modern times. Also the vowels are written level with the consonants something not found elsewhere in the regions languages.
Whoever is right the stone is naturally revered by modern day Thais who see it as reflecting a golden age and the king as a hero. Whatever problems the country may have to deal with they have before them an example of what was and what could be. Any ruler of Thailand will be measured against this great king from the past. To have the stone proved to be a forgery would therefore be a national tragedy.
It seems the king was a powerful personality. After his death there were changes, for none of his descendants managed to maintain the wide area of land, but the region was at least left with a sense of unity and of shared cultural identity.
With regard to the modern day Thailand is in an area of the world where, in the case of some countries near by such as Burma (Myanmar), or China to the North and North Korea not so very far away, an authoritarian regime is the norm. They are close to both Cambodia and Vietnam, countries which have been devastated by war in recent years. The stone expresses values and a way of life to be aimed at a country where people live in freedom and are able to make a reasonable living in peace and harmony with their neighbors and one where their king is benevolent, judicious and respected by all. Because it is in the Thai language it also expresses their freedom form foreign oppression. Mention is made on the stele of religious festivals which also serves to remind the people of their common religious heritage which is to be enjoyed.
It could be argued that the stone is necessary for the wellbeing of modern day Thailand.
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