Damrong Rajanubhab

“ A king would resort to Buddhism for spiritual matters, whilst he would strictly follow the precepts of Hinduism in affairs temporal, such as in Coronation Ceremonies, or those connected with Swinging and the Commencement of Ploughing, the like of which you have most likely seen here year by year. In the Hindu monument of Bayon, I noticed a statue of a Bodhisattva, and in Buddhist places were also to be found statues of Vishnu riding on his Garuda, in just the same way as you can see them on the gable of the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace at Bangkok. ”

“ In Bangkok to-day, in what one may call a period at the height of prosperity, we are nevertheless unable to keep even in fair condition all our sanctuaries — even though they are far fewer in number and smaller in every way than those of Angkor. As I have shown above, when explaining the apparent changes in the religion of these monuments, there was need already, while the Khmer power was still flourishing, of repairs. ”

“ In the larger plot to the south are built the temple proper and the Preaching Hall which are somewhat damaged, but have been greatly repaired by the chief priest, but there is a prachedi in front of the temple and a pulpit in the Hall which are the work of the Ayuthia period or prior to that shown in the gold pavilion, and this is a proof that Wat Sai is a very old Wat and that Wat Sai was built before the golden pavilion. To the North is the smaller plot on which the golden pavilion is built, it is divided from the larger plot on which the temple proper is built, by a canal. ”

“ In the mode 'Banleng Pin' only the 'gourd-lute' was used and the singer accompanied himself on it (see plate IX) . Few players can perform on the instrument now and it is not much used, being replaced by the 'Saw' (fiddle) .
The 'Khap Mai' is played by three musicians: a singer, a three-string-fiddle-player who accompanies the singing, and a player of 'Bandoh' drum who marks time (see plate X) . This kind of music obtains nowadays only in certain royal ceremonies, such as those which mark the Coronation anniversaries. The 'Banleng Pin' and the 'Khap Mai' are played exclusively by men. ”

“ Angkor Wat was built in the later period of Khmer civilisation, about the 12th century A.D. From an architectural point of view, it cannot be said that the builders of this group of sanctuaries invented anything new; on the other hand you can see there adaptations from various other older monuments. And yet Angkor Wat is extremely imposing. The style, even though an adaptation, is magnified in proportion and the whole produces a splendid effect.
Of Buddhist sanctuaries there exist several considerable monuments, but none as yet so well cleared and restored as Bayon and Angkor Wat. ”

“ The ancestors of Phra Chao U Thong had certainly once established their capital at the city of Tritung or Pèp, a little below Kampheng Phet on the western bank of the river, and perhaps they established another city known as Devanagara, the position of which is said to be a little lower down on the eastern bank. But instead of immigrating direct to Ayuthia, there are reasons, as I have explained, to assume that they have come down to Suphan or even more south and remained there for generations before the capital was established at Ayuthia. ”

“ This type of structure called a golden pavilion, other people may not build for their own use, or if it be built, it is as an offering to the Temple such as a shrine for the Image of the Buddha or a library for the sacred texts, for it is not customary for other people to make a golden pavillion as a building for the use of the priests or as a Sala. ”

“ My impression is that a Prime Minister is indispensible in parliamentary government, but in a country where absolute monarchy prevails such as, for example, Russia, Turkey, and Persia, the system did not seem to do much good without a strong monarch, nor indeed able to safe a weak monarch from his ruin. But I repeat again that I do not consider myself competent to judge matters of European nature, so I will confine my comment entirely to what I think would effect Siam and the Siamese. ”

“ It is evident to me, on whom has fallen the task of finding a suitable book, that attendance at the cremation will be large, for the deceased lady and her husband have been fortunate in the possession of a wide circle of friends, both Siamese and foreigners. The King's command that the cremation be an official function is widely appreciated as a token of His Majesty's recognition of the sterling character of the lady, and it will have the effect of increasing further the number of those attending the ceremony. ”

“ It may be assumed that when Chao U Thong established his capital at Ayuthia, he could not remove all the people from his old residence, and Khun Hluang Phagnua, the elder brother of the Queen Consort, remained in his old residence, where, in having to look after his own interest, he was appointed Phra Paramaraja to administer the old city. ”

“ H. M. Rāma I considered that a recompense should be made for the injury inflicted by the King of Thonburi on Somdech Phrasangkharat Si for refusing to pay homage, and so was pleased to pull down the golden pavillion of the King of Thonburi, and to set it up again to be the residence of the said Phrasangkharat and to be a mark of honour to him. ”

“ It is indeed proposed that the Prime Minister should have the power of removal and selection of ministers. But such powers have always been considered to belong to the king alone, and considered to be the mainstay against personal intrigue of others. It will be a great difference between the King exercising those powers in the S.C.S., and permitting the Prime Minister to exercise them with his approval. If the King's own backstair is considered obnoxious, what would it be to have another one of the Prime Minister? ”

“ Most Khmer monuments are in the form of sanctuaries. Some are Buddhist, whilst others are Brahmin. The styles of architecture and decoration originated in India, but were later modified by skilled artists so as to create finally an altogether independisseminated everywhere. Monuments as far away as in Siam were modelled in the style of Angkor, diminishing of course in size and proportion, or else copying merely one or other sections of the great sanctuary. Khmer monuments are, therefore, easy to recognise anywhere. They are all fine and imposing. ”

“ To-day it is still popular in the eastern provinces. The 'Pī Saw' and reed organ players separate themselves into two groups, men on one side and women on the other, and they sing love songs in duet. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn, the 1st Guard Infantry Regiment introduced the use of ten reed organs of varying sizes in unison like the instruments of European orchestra. The effect was found pleasing, and the orchestra of reed organs therefore continues to be played even to-day. ”

“ It is very well written, and is peculiar in this way: the author has succeeded in his endeavours to give his countrymen an exact idea of such novelties as the railway, the telegraph, and even the circus, which were absolutely unknown in Siam and which had never been seen by himself before. ”

“ Even if the innovation is introduced I doubt whether it can accomplish more rapidly, not to say, or better. I am an old man and may be considered naturally conservative, but with sincere conviction I beg leave to ask that what fault or drawback the present system has shown, so as to endanger the safety or retard the progress of Siam, if it is allowed to continue? ”

“ According to the laws of those days, the steersman was liable to execution, but Phrachao Süa was merciful and did not condemn the steersman, as he considered that the accident was due to the windings of the canal. That steersman was a native of Norasingh in the district of Ang-Thong and was known as the steersman of Norasingh, so he begged that he might be executed in order that the Royal Edicts should not be transgressed, and so the King was obliged to have him put to death. ”

“ Those which are made of wood, such as castanets for instance, are also to be classed under the group 'Ghana', because they too mark time (see plate III) . It seems that several instruments which play the melody are developed from those used for marking time. For instance, the 'Khong Vong', or a set of gongs, seems to have been evolved from a single gong: first the single gong became a pair of gongs of different notes called 'Khong Khū' (which figures in the Norā orchestra) ”

“ One of the most remarkable peculiarities of the "Voyage to London" is that every time the author has to use an English name oran English word, he always succeeds in finding an appropriate Siamese word to rhyme with. ”

“ Of the materials for building, namely brick, laterite and stone, or mixtures of either, one would be inclined at first to believe that brick was the earliest in use, because it was easy to make and easy to handle even with only comparatively few workmen. As their resources and power increased, the Khmer probably began to adopt laterite which was more durable. At the height of their power, when they could obtain workmen by tens of thousands, they graduated into stone which would last and could be carved in as beautiful a manner as they wished. ”

“ It can be reached from Bangkok by the Tachin railway, alight at Bangkhunthian Station, and walk a short distance in a southerly direction, and the boundary of the Temple will be reached, the railway line passes behind the temple. Besides there are two ways of reaching Wat Sai by boat, one by Klong Bangkok Yai, the other by Klong Daokhanong, but care must be taken to go when there is plenty of water in the canals. This ancient pavilion is situated near the canal, by the side of the priests' cells. It is a wooden pavilion with three rooms. ”

“ This work originated in Thailand and is in the public domain according to sections 19 and 20 of Thailand's Copyright Act, 2537 BE (1994) (Translation) , because:
the author (or the last co-author) was a natural person and died at least 50 years ago, or the author is/was a juristic person or the author is not known, and at least 50 years have passed since the creation of the work, or if the work was published during such period of 50 years, at least 50 years have passed since the first publication of the work. ”

“ There are fewer women than men who take up Mahorī.
Pīpāt Band.
The 'Pī Pāt' modelled upon the system of ancient India comprised five instruments:
Oboe playing the melody (Sushira) ; Drum with one face (Āyata) ; Drum with two skins connected by means of straps (Vitata) ; Two-faced drum with skins nailed down (Ativitata) ; Gong marking the cadence (Ghana) . The combination is known as "The Five Instruments". ”

“ Those who applause and willing to support the innovation, either by conviction, or by allowing loyalty to the King to override their conviction, and those who applause because they expect personal benefit from it. ”

“ The idea underlying the whole structure seems to me more beautiful than that of all the other monuments. The dome with human faces is imitated elsewhere, such as on the top of the city and monastery gates, but they abound in Angkor only. A curious point worth drawing your attention to is that, although Bayon was a beautiful conception as a whole, yet an architectural mistake was made in that, while the central dome was being built, it was discovered that the foundations were unable to bear its weight. ”

“ The city is called by the people Müang Thao U Thong (the city of King U Thong) and there is a tradition that Thao U Thong reigned over this city until an epidemic broke out and the people died in great numbers. He then abandoned the city and turning to the East looked out for another place to establish the capital; but the epidemic did not abate. He then crossed the Suphan (Tachin) river to escape the ravages of the epidemic, and even at the present time near the Suphan river there is a place called "Tha Thao U Thong" i.e. ”