The English Governess at the siamese court

Dear Lok Bora,

This week, on the occasion of the Siamese King"s Birthday (5 Dec), Thailand is hosting a regional Ramayana drama, where Cambodia is also participating. The audience feel that the Siamese and Khmer Ramayana is more or less the same, while that from the Philippines is rather different.

I went trough an old book written by Anna Leonowens entitled Anna and the King of Siam (1870). In this book, the section on Literature and Art, the author describes that the Siamese court set up a commission to translate many books of wonder from Cambodia. May I quote:

P'rah Ramawsha, a writer highly esteemed, did wonders for the Siamese drama. He translated the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and portions of the Cambodian lyrices into Siamese; introduced masks, with significance of costume and ornament; substituted theatres, or rather salas, for the temporary booth or the open plain; and elevated the matter and style of the dramatic composition from the burlesque and buffoonery to the sentimental and majestic. He was also the first to impart spirit and variety to the dialogue, and to teach actors to express like artists, and not like mere animals, the strong human passions of anger, love, and pity. The plays of P'hra Ramawsha are highly esteemed at court. In his management of amorous incidents and intrigues, heis, if not positively refined, at least less gross than other Siamese dramatists. The dress of the players is always rich,

and in the fashion of that worn at court. (page 177).

I want to research more on the life and work of P'hra Ramawsha. Where was he from? Was he a scholar from Battambang or Surin?

Anna Leonowens, a British citizen, was invited by the King of Thailand to teach English and Western Civilization to the Royal family members in the Bangkok Royal Palace for seven years in 19th Century. Through her good advice, many children and grand children of King Mongkut had studied at Oxford and other institutions in the UK and kept Thailand away from western colonization.

Thanks to Anna, now we understand why the so-called" Thai" dance and drama are the same as those of Cambodian ones.

Somphote

--------

Prof. Samphote,

Thank you for reminding me of the book, (your quote), The English Governess at the siamese court by Anna H. Leonowens (1870), which I read some time back. After I read your email, I checked the book, the page, and I noticed I had hightlighted that exact (you quoted) paragraph. we spotted the same thing, interestingly.

Of note, Anna H. Leonowens on her journey to Angkor Vat in 1860s mentioned she passed through Sisuphon [now serei sophon/Svay] and a "quaint, antique town of Phanomsok [Phnom Srok, half way between Svay and Siem reap], half ruined and deserted, where the remains of a magnificent palace can still be traced".

I was wondering if any one has studied this palace. The name "phnom srok" is an ancient one. Could it be the "Funan" the Chinese called.?

Leonowens also mentioned she was travelling on an ancient highway "our guides tell us that this isolated ridge was once the great highway of ancient Cambodia, that it can be traced from the neighborhood of Nohk Burree to Naghkon Watt [Nokor Vat], and thence to the very heart of Cochin China; and one assures us that no man has ever seen the end of it". p 302.

Prof. Im Rithy of the Apsara Authority can enlighten us about this ancient Highway and Taphan Hin [Spean Hin or Spean thmor] or ancient bridges, which is the subject of his years-long research.

Amazed Leonowens went on "Naghkon, or Ongkoor, is supposed to have been the royal city of the ancient kingdom of cambodia, or Khaimain [Khmer], of which the only traditions that remain decribe in wild extravagances its boundless territory; its princes without number who paid tribute in gold, silver, and precious stuffs; its army of seventy thousands war elephants, two hundreds thousands horsemen, and nearly six millions of foot soldiers; and its royal treasure-houses covering 'three hundred miles of ground' " . 304.

I think she got the reference/information from King Mongkut, her boss. King Mongkut also gave a copy of "The Legend of the Maha Naghkon" which she translated and appended to her book.

I attach the relevant pages of section XXIX of The English Governess at the siamese court (1870).

Regards

Bora Touch

http://www.box.com/s/vl6zzxjnuq7xrp0fm9po