Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr (Choom Abhaiwongse, 1861 to 1922).MANSION fit for A KING
The Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr building has a storied history and remains an architectural jewel
10/03/2009
By VASANA CHINVARAKORN
Bangkok Post
This is a building inspired by love and loyalty. And for the past century, the ochre-coloured two-story mansion next to the Prachin Buri river has been through a fascinating history of transformations. Named after the original owner, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr (Choom Abhaiwongse, 1861 to 1922), the baroque-style building was born out of his simple wish to provide a vacation residence fit for a king. Then it was offered as a royal wedding gift, and later turned into a hospital touted to be the country's most beautiful. Now housing a museum on traditional Thai medicine, the picture of its facade has been used as the logo of Thailand's most popular line of herbal products under the brand name of "Abhaibhubejhr".
It all began in 1909. A loyal subject to King Chulalongkorn, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr had an opportunity to play host during the former's royal visit to Prachin Buri a year earlier. Due to limited resources at the time - Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr himself had just relocated his whole family from Cambodia's Battambang to Siam in 1907 - the monarch had to stay in a makeshift pavilion for the entire trip. After the king's departure, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr thus decided to initiate the construction project, to build a mansion more fitting for His Majesty, lest he might return to the area again.
Estimated to cost about a million baht, a rather considerable sum at the time, the ambitious scheme recruited the best of designers and craftsmen. A French architectural firm that had been commissioned to build a similar style of building in Battambang while Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr was still the governor there was rehired; certain high-quality materials unavailable locally like roof and floor tiles, rainwater pipes and a weathercock (with both eyes made of real diamonds, it is reputed) were imported from overseas. It is believed that the builders may have been drawn from French Indochina, as well.
King Vajiravudh and his royal consort, Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana, formerly Tew Abhaiwongse, on their wedding day.
Despite his best intentions, however, the mansion was completed after King Chulalongkorn's demise in 1910. But Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr was able to throw a lavish reception on the premises when King Vajiravudh paid him a royal visit two years later. Intriguingly, the building was subsequently presented as a wedding gift when the monarch married one of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's granddaughters, Kruakaew, aka Tew Abhaiwongse, who was appointed Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana (royal consort) in 1924.
It should be noted that up until his final days, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr had never made use of the building himself. Ironically, the only occasion came after he passed away, in 1922, with his royally sponsored funeral service being held at the site.
The century-old Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr building in Prachin Buri remains a testament to the unwavering loyalty of one man for his beloved monarch. It has been transformed from a vacation residence of Rama VI, who married Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr’s granddaughter, to a public hospital and now a museum of traditional Thai medicine.
As a tribute to her grandfather, in 1937 Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana decided to donate the building to the Royal Thai Army to be used as a hospital catering to both the military and the local public. Four years later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Public Health, which named it the Prachin Buri Hospital. The present name of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital was unanimously voted on by the provincial council in 1966.
The first phase of restoration began in 1970, when then hospital director Dr Sujin Palakornkul deemed it necessary to return the building to as near the original condition as possible. From then on, it was used only for special occasions such as to receive members of the royal family and, interestingly, to host the wedding parties of hospital staff. In 1990, the Fine Arts Department registered the building as a heritage site.
Pharmacist Supaporn Pitiporn.
Substantial repair work did not take place, however, until well into the mid-'90s. In 1994, pharmacist Supaporn Pitiporn pioneered the task, with support from then-director Dr Prem Chinvanthananond. Despite the initial difficulty of fund-raising, the mission was finally accomplished - the first building of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital was restored to its former grandeur. In 1999, it won an award for the best architectural design (building category) from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
But a building is more than a combination of bricks and tiles. For years, Supaporn has been researching Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's life and the more she learns, the more she grows to admire his calibre and loyalty to his king. "This is a person who was willing to leave everything for the sake of his country." Supaporn refers in particular to the historic juncture in 1907 when Siam was forced to cede its control over Siem Riep, Sisophon and Battambang in return for the coastal towns of Trat and Chantaburi. Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr decided to return to Siam despite an offer by the French colonial power that he could remain the governor of Battambang and adjacent areas if he wished.
Supaporn thus views her work at the hospital, promoting knowledge and use of traditional Thai medicine, as an effort to carry on Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's spirit. A century ago, the man stood up to defy the foreign powers. Now, it is to keep national "sovereignty" from the multinational pharmaceutical industry with its patent-oriented regime.
"So there is a continuation between the legacies of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr and us his descendants. We respect him because we understand, appreciate, what he tried to do throughout his life. Our hope is only that we will be able to be completely self-reliant in terms of producing our own [herbal] medicine for our needs, one day."
Were Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr still alive, he would be tremendously pleased.
10/03/2009
By VASANA CHINVARAKORN
Bangkok Post
This is a building inspired by love and loyalty. And for the past century, the ochre-coloured two-story mansion next to the Prachin Buri river has been through a fascinating history of transformations. Named after the original owner, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr (Choom Abhaiwongse, 1861 to 1922), the baroque-style building was born out of his simple wish to provide a vacation residence fit for a king. Then it was offered as a royal wedding gift, and later turned into a hospital touted to be the country's most beautiful. Now housing a museum on traditional Thai medicine, the picture of its facade has been used as the logo of Thailand's most popular line of herbal products under the brand name of "Abhaibhubejhr".
It all began in 1909. A loyal subject to King Chulalongkorn, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr had an opportunity to play host during the former's royal visit to Prachin Buri a year earlier. Due to limited resources at the time - Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr himself had just relocated his whole family from Cambodia's Battambang to Siam in 1907 - the monarch had to stay in a makeshift pavilion for the entire trip. After the king's departure, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr thus decided to initiate the construction project, to build a mansion more fitting for His Majesty, lest he might return to the area again.
Estimated to cost about a million baht, a rather considerable sum at the time, the ambitious scheme recruited the best of designers and craftsmen. A French architectural firm that had been commissioned to build a similar style of building in Battambang while Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr was still the governor there was rehired; certain high-quality materials unavailable locally like roof and floor tiles, rainwater pipes and a weathercock (with both eyes made of real diamonds, it is reputed) were imported from overseas. It is believed that the builders may have been drawn from French Indochina, as well.
King Vajiravudh and his royal consort, Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana, formerly Tew Abhaiwongse, on their wedding day.Despite his best intentions, however, the mansion was completed after King Chulalongkorn's demise in 1910. But Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr was able to throw a lavish reception on the premises when King Vajiravudh paid him a royal visit two years later. Intriguingly, the building was subsequently presented as a wedding gift when the monarch married one of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's granddaughters, Kruakaew, aka Tew Abhaiwongse, who was appointed Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana (royal consort) in 1924.
It should be noted that up until his final days, Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr had never made use of the building himself. Ironically, the only occasion came after he passed away, in 1922, with his royally sponsored funeral service being held at the site.
The century-old Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr building in Prachin Buri remains a testament to the unwavering loyalty of one man for his beloved monarch. It has been transformed from a vacation residence of Rama VI, who married Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr’s granddaughter, to a public hospital and now a museum of traditional Thai medicine.As a tribute to her grandfather, in 1937 Phra Nang Chao Suvadhana decided to donate the building to the Royal Thai Army to be used as a hospital catering to both the military and the local public. Four years later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Public Health, which named it the Prachin Buri Hospital. The present name of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital was unanimously voted on by the provincial council in 1966.
The first phase of restoration began in 1970, when then hospital director Dr Sujin Palakornkul deemed it necessary to return the building to as near the original condition as possible. From then on, it was used only for special occasions such as to receive members of the royal family and, interestingly, to host the wedding parties of hospital staff. In 1990, the Fine Arts Department registered the building as a heritage site.
Pharmacist Supaporn Pitiporn.Substantial repair work did not take place, however, until well into the mid-'90s. In 1994, pharmacist Supaporn Pitiporn pioneered the task, with support from then-director Dr Prem Chinvanthananond. Despite the initial difficulty of fund-raising, the mission was finally accomplished - the first building of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital was restored to its former grandeur. In 1999, it won an award for the best architectural design (building category) from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
But a building is more than a combination of bricks and tiles. For years, Supaporn has been researching Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's life and the more she learns, the more she grows to admire his calibre and loyalty to his king. "This is a person who was willing to leave everything for the sake of his country." Supaporn refers in particular to the historic juncture in 1907 when Siam was forced to cede its control over Siem Riep, Sisophon and Battambang in return for the coastal towns of Trat and Chantaburi. Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr decided to return to Siam despite an offer by the French colonial power that he could remain the governor of Battambang and adjacent areas if he wished.
Supaporn thus views her work at the hospital, promoting knowledge and use of traditional Thai medicine, as an effort to carry on Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr's spirit. A century ago, the man stood up to defy the foreign powers. Now, it is to keep national "sovereignty" from the multinational pharmaceutical industry with its patent-oriented regime.
"So there is a continuation between the legacies of Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr and us his descendants. We respect him because we understand, appreciate, what he tried to do throughout his life. Our hope is only that we will be able to be completely self-reliant in terms of producing our own [herbal] medicine for our needs, one day."Were Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr still alive, he would be tremendously pleased.
37 comments:
The story of a traitor. Nothing to admire. The treasures plundered from Cambodia to ingratiate a siam king.
What is the purposes of this article?.Who the hell care ?.
It's good to learn a small part of the history.
Next time we will learn how ex King,Sihanouk would live in Beijing,China.
"This is a person who was willing to leave everything for the sake of his country." Ohhu ohh you bitch...you couldnt have said that...but you could said that " he is a traitor Khmer who blindly betrayed his own country and people, Cambodia.
"This is a person who was willing to leave everything for the sake of his country." Ohhu ohh you bitch...you couldnt have said that...but you could said that " he is a traitor Khmer who blindly betrayed his own country and people, Cambodia.
"This is a person who was willing to leave everything for the sake of his country." Ohhu ohh you bitch...you couldnt have said that...but you could said that " he is a traitor Khmer who blindly betrayed his own country and people, Cambodia.
Speechless for a Khmer who turns Siam.
We know why, because he was a nasty sob who practiced nothing, but cruelty to other human being. He knew who he was and scared to death that one day people will rise up and chop his head off. Remember battambang samie lok machas?
Yeah, now we know for sure that Khmer also built Thailand and not just Thai alone that built their country. Also it's good to know that Cambodian culture have preserve itself firmly in Thailand. All because of the Aphiawong family was there. They appearantly have preserved it in the biggest way possible. Like it or not, one day everyone is going to realize that we are branches from the same one big tree.
THANK YOU KI FOR BRINGING THIS ARTICLE TO US.
DID THE SCUMBAG THINK HE WAS (BARAING) FRENCH?????
MAY HE STAY IN HELL FOREVER!!!!!!!
like ah Hun Xen! It maried his daughter to ah Hok Landow of taiyhoung family!
this guy was a khmer traitor of that era. his orgin was pure khmer, however, due to political reason, he switched allegiance to siam king then, but his ancestor was real khmer people from the area of present-day cambodia's takeo province. of course, when cambodia regained battambang in the early 1900s, this traitor family relocated to one of the other old khmer provinces lost to siam and have the same design governor's mansion build there that look strikingly similar to the original governor's mansion in the city of battamband in present-day cambodia. what a traitors they were. all khmers who studied history knew this fact! the khmer traitor these people were!!! god bless cambodia.
of course this khmer traitors were dead already! khmers please learn from our history! what a traitor! he's in hell now! may he and his family be rebornt as by chicken and pig and dog and flies and cockroach so i can smash them all!
Hun SEN repeating this traitor's path right now!
The face of Traitors!
Kathathorn Chhum and Sophorn Pisal,the governor of Siem Reap, are cousins. Lok Sophorn Pisal is the grandfather of Princess Norodom
Preah Reach Konitha Reaksmei sophorn. The latter is Norodom Sihanouk's aunt.
And look, how Siohanouk is related to Aphaivong family???
If anyone remember Kum Ping or Lok Yeay Ping, she took her look after her father. Kun Ping is the daughter of Lok Yeay Pos and LYP was one of Governor Chhum or Choom Aphaiwong's wife. They remained in Battambang until April of 1975, but they were older people at that time and were probably gone by now. Kun Ping was about the same age as President Lon Nol and she was very closed to both his excellency LN and Mrs. Lon Nol ( Lok Chumteav Keng). Now, we're interested in knowing who is King Vajiravudh? and how deos he relate to the present King Bhumibol? Deos Preash Neang Tew and him have any children? and who are they? Can you publish more about this article KI? Thank you in advance
Oh boy!
Kun Ping was a very respectful none and she went by the name of Kun Arun cheuy and does anyone know that the song " Bach Phka Moras Prov" by Ros Serey Sothea was writting for her? keep guessing...for her and whom?
great posts (the constructive ones). more pse i want to know more about old Cambodia.
8:27am,
Do you mean the Princess that the whole country knowing her by Neak Angmachas Reaksmei Sophorn? She was the one that didn't leave the country during the 70's or during the LonNol's Era, correct? and She stayed to make a living by directing a movie? If so, one can imagine how close she was to Kun Ping and the President himself and we didn't see LN's soldiers went after those people, did we? People were continueing to live their lives normally and freely. It was of course a little sad, becuase our country had war with the vietcong and Mr. president had fallen ill. He picked up Stroke or brain attack and lost one side of his body. From then on, Cambodia was drifting down the clif. It was really bad that HM King Sihanouk did not come back to save it. We got this bararic and a..hole Pol Pot instead. Speechless of the century.
God!I miss Cambodia and Phoum Wat Kor and Wat Kandoung ( Bell Temple ).
That explains why Khuang Aphaiwong ( one of Gov. Chhum or choom Aphaiwong's son )can rise up to the rank of Primier In Thailand in late 1930's to early 1940's and guess..whose country he built?
Thailand and Vietnam share the same attitude, I love Cambodia and the Cambodian people. Thailand appearantly didn't seem to be afraid of promoting a foreigner like us either. Why? because they know, Cambodian are awesome people! There was a time when Thailand Royal family had tried to arrange our past Monarch HM N. Sihanouk with one of their daughters, but he was flated saying no. King Knew better. It was their dirty trick. The Thai princess then went on into an exile in Europe.
Turn the vedio backward to the time when King Bhumibol's had celebrated his 60 years as Thai's King. You'll see that both him and his queen adored King Sihamoni during the meeting. It was nice to see that, but who knows what lies underneath of it? and look at the present day Mr. Cambodian's PM with the vietnam's leaders. Buddy Buddy type. One is the side kick to the other. Doesn't it scare you? or freaking you out? Guess, it's better than killing each other.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE LIKE AN UNDIFFERENTIATE CELL OR STEM CELL TO THOSE PEOPLE. SO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.
If preah reach konitha reaksmei sophorn is King Sihanouk's aunt. It means Preah Batsomdach Norodom Suramreth is her brother. It also means he is also the grandson of Sophorn Pisal and the nephew of Aphaiwong.
King Sihanouk was very smart when he turned around and gave up his throne and then gave it to his father. May be it was meant to be in the first place, because Preah batsisowath moniwong wasn't supposed to king to begin with. It was The Norodom's side which should be. Perhaps, if it would not be the French, King Sihanouk wouldn't be King at all. That also explained his great love affair with then Ms. Monique whose mom also was a comonner from Battambang ( or the former wife of Sak bei Oum ).
The mother of Preah BatSodach Suramarith and Norodom Kanitha Reaksmei sophorn has to be the daughter of Soporn Pisal. Wow!
i know, khmer people love this kind of soap opera story, especially if it related to the past of love, hate, blood related etc... very interesting, indeed, given, in the past khmer society, people have so many wives and husbands and they are related in some way or another! i wouldn't be surprise a bit in khmer old tradition! of course, cambodia is so rich in culture and tradition like this! god bless cambodia.
of course, there are a lot of khmer people living in thailand today. i'm not even surprise if they find a lot of classical khmer songs in thailand, especially of ros sereysothea, sin sisamouth, pen ron, huy meas, etc... as they too were very popular and famous in thailand during that time when they are singing and still living. thai people or even khmer people who lived in thailand like old khmer movies like pos keng kong, etc... so the movies are probably still in good original quality given the stupid KR destroyed a bunch of them in cambodia during their rule! do more research, you'll be surprise to find a lot of khmer in thailand!
thai and khmer people are more related than we think. it's sad because these two countries are different in politics like we see between sam rainsy and mr. hun sen today despite that they are both khmer citizens. in past, problem between siam and khmer were mostly in politics but never so much between the general people are they can get along well because of similar culture, tradition, religioin, etc... but the politics is something else to reckon with. i hope one day the two nation will get along, especially when they overlook their trivial political different and see more of similarity than differences. the world will be a better place when we all can see this and prefer to live side by side without so much fighting and hate and so on. i guess if we can respect each other, then we will have no problem, same with youn people, too, i guess!
Khmer-Saimese meant Khmer-Traitors!
To 11:34..no,he did not think that he is barang. He thinks he's thai. With seven of his genations being a puppet to Siam, it's no suprised for him to speaks thai fluently and also considered himself thai. Cambodian means nothing for him in 1907. He'll get more by going to thailand. See his granddaughter, his son and his mansion today.In Cambodia, no one even cares searching for his remaining relatives and family. Everyone probably wishes him dead. King family for example made almost zero effort of acknowledging his root, let alone ordinary people. There was no point of getting in touch with a family that made a decision to abandon their own kind. Aphaiwong on the
other side by going to Thailand, he can be sure that he's kissing Cambodia goodbye and there is no turning back. One can only suggest that a proposal marriage between Sihanouk and the thai princess might very well be came from Aphaiwong, but who knows? and if it came from the Aphaiwong and he himself had already turned thai, would it means that King of Cambodia ( or King Sihanouk )will also turn thai soon or later by marrying their princess? Very smart move King. You are better with Queen Monineath, but it 's sad that there is no good sign of thai from then on. Preah Vihear issue is another matter that kept King miles away from Thailand. Therefore alienated his family even more and for good. There is no trust in it and it's only darkness sadness and goodbye....
11:45AM,
Khun Arun Choeuy singhaksenei Ping
was living in Wat Kor. She was very close to Preah Reach Kannitha Reaksmei sophorn, as both weres rderscendants of Aphaivong family.
Khun Ping and Chumteav Kheng had built the Prang on top of Phnom Sampao.
Yothea ah Pol Pot took her and killed her behind the Phnom Banan.
Preah Nang Tiv went to live in Swiss, after king Vijiravuth passed away.
Why they kept shown this fucken Traitors picture still? Khmer don't want to see Ah Traitors face again and again!
How about ah Kh'vang, like Aphaivong family for Thai interests, who's working for Viet Hanoi ???
Both Hun Kh'vang and Aphaivong are khmernational traitors.
Why all khmers did not, do not, may be will not do something to destroy this Hun's Viet puppet regime ???
8:45 PM,
Wrongly what you said.
Sihanouk is a LADYWOMEN.
While in Saigon high school, he did stay with Bao Dai, and had a love relationship with Bao Dai's sister. She gave birth to a female kid. Sihanouk named her as Norodom Bopha. The latter got married with the second son of Bao Dai. Ojne of her son, Sihanouk and Bao Dai's grandson, is working in the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh.
Later He did want to engage with a Thai princess. Thai royal family almost agreed with that proposal, but sait that they wait for the future Bhumibol to decide when he would be back from foreign university. Bhumibol refused that proposal by saying he did not want Thai princess to marry with UNEDUCATED KHMER MONARCH.
Later Sihanouk got a Laotian princess for his another concubine.
Thanks 3:53a.m
11:45a.m
To 8:22a.m
King Sihanouk didn't saying no by himself. The whole country and his advisors were behind him. So say what you want. You don't live in Cambodia.
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