Towards a History of Chanthaburi, 1700-1860: The French Sources (original) (raw)
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Journal of the Siam Society, 2022
This article presents research findings from a project seeking to plug gaps in accounts of Muslim actors in Siam between the early 17th and the mid-19th century, between the reigns of King Prasat Thong (r. 1629-1656) and King Rama III (r. 1824-1851). We limit ourselves to the legacy of the descendants of Sultan Sulaiman (r. 1620-1676), which-for comparative purposes-we juxtapose with Sheikh Ahmad Qomi. We begin by contextualising both of these by documenting Siam's administrative structure and culture. This is followed by the succession, rebellion and rehabilitation of Sultan Sulaiman's eldest son, Mustapha (between 1676 and 1692), before considering the administrative and military careers of Hussein (d. 1693) and Hasan (d. 1691), and the range of contributions by the descendants of Mustapha, Hussein and Hasan. These reveal hitherto overlooked connections between South and Central Thailand, similarities between these Muslim lineages, their mixed fortunes, the contributions of the Sultan Sulaiman lineage to the military, the side forms that co-option by Ayutthaya and Bangkok took, that led some to forsake the religion of these lineages for Buddhism.
A Note on the Ancient Towns and Cities of Northeastern Thailand_rev
Tonan Ajia Kenkyu (“Southeast Asian Studies”) (Kyoto), 1974
In this note I call attention to some evidence in the indigenous literature of the people of the Khorat Plateau that might throw some additional light on the ancient towns and cities known archaeologically. While I consider some specific evidence from two legends from the region, I do so only to indicate what information might be derived from legendary sources rather than to present the distillation of a long period of research. I conclude this note with a few suggestions regarding the possible interpretation of the evidence on the ancient sites of northeastern Thailand.
Tok Takia's Legacy in Ayutthaya, Thailand: Tracing Qadriyyah Circulations through the Bay of Bengal
Studia Islamika
This article fills some of the gaps in the secondary literature about the growing Muslim presence in the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya during the mid-sixteenth century. It does so by reconstructing the arrival of Tok Takia, a miracle-working Sufi missionary who arrived from somewhere in the Indian subcontinent. The study begins with a description of the Tok Takia Complex which consists of a mosque that once was a Buddhist temple and a maqam where Tok Takia was buried in 1579 before introducing references to the former in Thai primary sources. Before dealing with details about Qadriyyah presence across the Bay of Bengal, this research reconstructs the geopolitical and commercial developments from the late fifteenth century contributing to the growth of Muslim—and specifically, Kling Muslims—presence in Ayutthaya mentioned in a range of Siamese and Portuguese primary sources. This paper presents reasons for suggesting that Tok Takia’s missionary activism was connected to the Nagore-e-S...
A Note on the Ancient Towns and Cities of Northeastern Thailand
In this note I call attention to some evidence in the indigenous literature of the people of the Khorat Plateau that might throw some additional light on the ancient towns and cities known archaeologically. While I consider some specific evidence from two legends from the region, I do so only to indicate what information might be derived from legendary sources rather than to present the distillation of a long period of research. I conclude this note with a few suggestions regarding the possible interpretation of the evidence on the ancient sites of northeastern Thailand.
Studia Islamika, 2022
This article fills some of the gaps in the secondary literature about the growing Muslim presence in the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya during the mid-sixteenth century. It does so by reconstructing the arrival of Tok Takia, a miracle-working Sufi missionary who arrived from somewhere in the Indian subcontinent. The study begins with a description of the Tok Takia Complex which consists of a mosque that once was a Buddhist temple and a maqam where Tok Takia was buried in 1579, before introducing references to the former in Thai primary sources. Although we address details about Qadriyyah presence across the Bay of Bengal, we first reconstruct the geopolitical and commercial developments from the late fifteenth century contributing to the growth of Muslim—and specifically, Kling Muslim— presence in Ayutthaya mentioned in a range of Siamese and Portuguese primary sources. This paper presents reasons for suggesting that Tok Takia’s missionary activism was connected to the Nagore-e-Sharif complex in present-day Tamil Nadu.
What Happened at Nong Sarai? Comparing Indigenous and European Sources for Late 16th Century Siam
The elephant duel in 1593 at Nong Sarai between Naresuan and the Burmese crown prince is one of the most famous incidents in Thai history, often repeated in a standard version. In fact, there are (at least) ten different accounts of the battle that differ widely. Comparing these accounts by Siamese, Burmese, European and Persian authors throws insight both on what may have truly happened at Nong Sarai and on the writing of Thai history.
Keyes Northern Thai Frontier History
In In Memoriam Phya Anuman Rajadhon. Tej Bunnag and Michael Smithies, ed. Bangkok: The Siam Society, pp. 221 50, 1970
On the 21st of June 1968, a party led by the District Abbot of Mae Sariang, Phra Khrū Anusôn Satsanākiat (Tham), and including myself, reached a cave located on a mountain overlooking the Salween some 35 kilometers WNW from the district seat of Mae Sariang. In the cave, known locally as the Red Cliff Cave (tham phā dāēng), we discovered six teak “scripture boxes” (hīp tham) all filled with palm leaf manuscripts (bailān) written in the Yuan script. This paper assessing the historical significance of this find is based on study of the listing of the manuscripts also on palm leaf found together with the manuscripts and on the colophons of many of the manuscripts.
RITUAL SOVEREIGNTY IN SIAM: ROYAL SCRAMENTS AND BRAHMANICAL LITURGIES IN AYUTTHAYA AND RATTANAKOSIN
HASSS, 2020
Although Thailand's population is predominantly Buddhist, many customs and traditions are deeply rooted in the Vedic rituals of ancient India; the rites of passage and associated rituals known in Sanskrit as saṃskāras, which are performed in the Thai court, clearly demonstrate this fact. The Indic saṃskāras are sixteen in number, comprising ceremonies to mark different stages of one's life: from birth to death. Similarly, the courtly ceremonies of Thailand have the same functions, but they are also conducted for the benefit of the population and are not limited to the personages of the court. Moreover, Brahmanical rituals utilising Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava hymns from south India namely the Tiruveṃpāvai and Tiruppāvai are also carried out, thus suggesting that Hinduism once played the central role in the socio-religious backdrop in the kingdom. The sources of these rituals, both courtly and public, can be found in The Royal Ceremonies of Twelve Months written by King Chulalongkorn who expounds them in great detail. Apart from outlining the significance of rituals and connecting them to the courtly protocols of the Ayutthaya period, Chulalongkorn provides glimpses into the 19 th-century royal ceremonies. In the present era, these rituals can still be observed in the palace and are officiated by the court Brahmins who claim ancestry from the early Indian diaspora in the present-day Thailand. Besides presenting the history and practices of Thai Brahmins, this paper also aims to compare the royal rituals with the Indian saṃskāras. Additionally, it aims to highlight the role of Brahmins in the Thai court and how their sacred liturgies ordain the king with the ritual sovereignty in exchange for the royal patronage that supports their livelihood and sustains their existence.