|
Chinese. 'Wealth god', 'money spirit' or 'mammon'. There are numerous distinct Chinese wealth gods, differentiating between formal and informal, as well as civilian and military wealth deities, with the most influential and popular one being the military god Zhao Gong Ming. Among the civilian wealth deities are Fan Li and Bi Gan, while another warrior god of wealth is Kuan U. The informal wealth gods include Wu Lu Cai Shen; the Smiling Buddha who is also known as Budai; Fu, one of the Three Star Gods; Li Shi Xian Guan; Liu Hai, the god associated with the three-legged Lucky Money Toad Chanchu, etc. Sometimes transcribed Tsai Shen or Chai Shen. 1. Sanskrit. 'Sanctuary'. An assembly hall for meditation and teaching. Originally an apsidal hall housing a stupa, or a funerary mound enshrining sacred relics of the Buddha, or objects used by him. It is the precursor of the Thai chedi. Also transcribed chaitya. In Pali cetiya. 2. Sanskrit. A particular style of arch and window construction as found in early cave temples in India. Also transcribed chaitya. Latin name for a tropical plant which in Thai is called bon. Latin. Large tree with tassel like white pink flowers that grow on top of the branches, giving the plant the epithet pink tassel-flower. It also exists as a plant and small tree. Originally from the North of South America. The tree is similar to the jamajurih or rain tree.
Thailand's neighbouring country to the East, roughly between Vietnam and Laos, bordering the Gulf of Thailand. The official name is Kingdom of Cambodia and the capital is Phnom Penh. Its covers a land area of 181,040 km² and has a total of 2,572 km of boundaries with Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. Its coastline is 443 km long and its highest point is Phnum Aoral, with an altitude of 1,810 meter. Natural resources are timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese and phosphates. The currency is the 'riel'. It has a population of just over 13 million, of which 90% are Khmer, the rest Vietnamese, Chinese and others. With 95% the majority of the people are Theravada Buddhist. The official language is Khmer but also French and English are spoken. Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns. Over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off almost 20 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces in 1998. In Thai Kamphucha.
Indonesian. General term for all ancient temples, both of Hindu and Buddhist. See Prambanan. See Wax Candle Festival. Epithet for the sala tree, from its large cannonball like seeds.
Architectural term for the uppermost, usually decorated part of a column, pillar or pilaster. See also cornice. East Indian tame buffalo or water buffalo. In Thai also kwai and krabeua.
Fruit of a tree with the scientific name anacardium occidentale. The shape of the cashew nut (fig.) resembles that of a mango, resulting in the Thai name ma muang himaphan, the Himaphan 'mango'. A cashew nut tree bears its nuts at the far end of an edible 'fruit' that resembles the rose apple (fig.). Although edible this 'fruit' is seldom consumed. Cashew nut shells contain urushiol, a toxin that may cause skin irritation and which must be removed by shelling the nuts before the seed inside is processed for consumption. This is done one by one with a large nutcracker (fig.), a slow, laborious and, because of the toxin, a somewhat hazardous process, hence its relatively high price. Afterwards the nuts are cooked, roasted or fried, making any possible remainders of the toxin non-noxious. In Thai also shortened to himaphan. Cashew nuts are a common ingredient in Thai cooking, such as in the dish kai pad med ma muang, 'fried chicken with cashew nuts'.
Starch from the thickened root of the manioc. Also tapioca. In Thai paengman. See manioc. Cayenne pepper or red pepper. Also named chili pepper and Spanish pepper. It is a popular spice used as an ingredient in many a Thai dish and Thai curries are made of chili paste (fig.) mixed with coconut milk. In Thai prik pon.
Earthenware with a blue-green to gray glaze, named after L'Astrée, a shepherd in the 1610 play by Honoré d'Urfé, who wore a green cloak with grey-green ribbons. Its colour is usually green and sometimes blue, but the hue may vary from pale to dark depending on the clay used, the glaze, and the temperature in the kiln. Modern celadon's finishing is finer (fig.), but the name is also often misused for pottery with a chemical glaze in which copper or lead are used. Originally it was produced in China where it was called 'green-wares', and later in other countries, including Thailand, where it first existed as a specialty of Sawankhalok, and in the beginning of the 20th century it was reintroduced by the Shan from Burma. Since celadon glaze is hard to control as it melts at a critical point under extreme temperatures, it was often not completely applied to the base, to avoid it sticking to the baking tray.
Sanskrit. Temple chamber housing the image or symbol of a god. Monument for someone who is buried elsewhere. Hundred feet. Name for an invertebrate arthropod belonging to the class of chilopoda. It has an elongated flattened body that consists of several segments with each segment bearing a single pair of legs and with each a dorsal and a ventral plate. Most species have a pair of poison claws on their head, used for preying upon insects. These claws are connected to a poison gland that releases a poison when it bites. Its bite is painful and will paralyze its victims. Centipedes can reach a length of over 10 centimeters and are among the largest terrestrial invertebrate predators on the planet. Their back end has a noteworthy pair of legs called the ultimate legs which are not for walking but for defense and mating. Centipedes are nocturnal and live in a range of moist habitats and are typically found in leaf litter, under stones and around deadwood. The variety commonly found in Thailand usually belongs to the family of scolopendridae, a family of large centipedes and called takaab in Thai. See also millipede (fig.).
See khai yiew ma. Pali for caitya. Old name for modern Sri Lanka. Thai-Chinese. 'Tea'. Name of a small tree of which its dried leaves are soaked in hot water to make the beverage tea. Tea can be cultivated in humid warm to hot climate, and at a height of 1,000-2,000 meters. In the hills and mountains of northern Thailand conditions for cultivating tea (fig.) are especially suitable. In the province of Chiang Rai the area around Doi Mae Salong (1,350 meters) has many tea plantations, as well as factories and tea shops. With Chinese people tea is always used to welcome guests in one's home. A cup of tea would be filled for only seven-tenths of its capacity, believing that the other thirty percent will be filled with friendship and affection. The English word 'tea' allegedly derives from the Hokian language spoken in the Chinese precinct of Fugian, where the locals called it 'thee'. Early Dutch traders who exported the dried leaves to Europe also called it 'thee', where it spread and became known by this name. Having the same pronunciation as the Dutch letter 't', the word 'thee' translated into English as 'tea' (t), hence its etymology. In Thai and Chinese it is called 'cha', a word that possibly comes from ancient Central Chinese, where it was earlier called 'sha', a word meaning 'to look for' or 'to check' and referring to the early beginning when people still had to look for the leaves in the forest. This then later changed into 'cha'. The Chinese character for the word consists of several pen strokes of which two of them look like crosses (++) and represent the tea leaves. The part that looks like an upward arrow stands for the top of the tree and the middle part represents its trunk. In Chinese:
See cham. The capital of Chachengsao province (map) in East Thailand, 82 kms to the East of Bangkok, situated on the banks of the Bang Pakong river, which divides the city in two. The main attraction is the Sothon Wararam Worawihaan temple (fig.) with the Sothon Buddha image, one of the most sacred images in the country and associated with the notorious Luang Po Sothon, a Phra saksit. This monk predicted the exact time of his own death, to which thousands of spectators flocked to the temple to watch him die, seated in the dhyani meditation pose. The city is also called Paet Riw. The region is known for a particular kind of mango, the mamuang raed. The province has ten amphur and one king amphur.
See Chachengsao. chadah (ชฎา) Thai. Golden conical shaped ornamented crown, as worn by Thai monarchs and the royal characters in classical khon performances. Compare with radklao.
chadok (ชาดก) Sanskrit-Pali-Thai. One of the in total 550 incarnations that every soul needs to take before it is able to be born as a buddha. Generally it stands for the life stories of the Buddha. In Thai tradition the last ten incarnations of the Buddha are the most important and are called Totsachat. See also jataka. chae im (แช่อิ่ม) Thai. General name for a method used to preserve fruits in syrup, or for the preserved fruits themselves, if prepared in this manner.
Province and provincial capital in Central Thailand (map), 194 kms to the North of Bangkok with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The region is known for the Chao Phraya dam, Thailand's first large water dam, completed in 1957 (fig.). Historically Chainat is known as the region where in 1776 king Taksin defeated the last Burmese troops, leading to the total liberation of Siam. The province is home to a large bird sanctuary (fig.) and has six amphur and two king amphur.
chaitya (चैत्य) See caitya. Chaiya (ไชยา) One of the oldest and historically most significant settlements in southern Thailand where a number of sculptures dating from the Srivijaya period (7th -13th century) were found, many showing Mon and Indian influences. As a port Chaiya played an important role in the trade between the peninsula, India and China. The name is possibly derived from Siwichaiya, the Thai pronunciation for Srivijaya.
Thai. 'Field of victory'. The capital of Chaiyaphum province (map) in Isaan with around 25,000 inhabitants and 342 kms Northeast of Bangkok. The name refers to the natural richness and fertility of the soil. The province has 15 amphur and one king amphur.
chakra (चक्र, จักร) 1. Sanskrit-Thai. 'Disc', one of the attributes of the Hindu god Vishnu. In the Ramakien the chakra is incarnated by Phra Phrot.
2. Sanskrit for 'wheel', representing the Buddhist Wheel of Law, symbol of the setting in motion of the Buddhist doctrine when the Buddha gave his first sermon, and symbol of the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. One of the marks of an enlightened being. 3. Sanskrit. Center of spiritual energy in the body and symbol of the sun. Compare with Shakra. Thai. Term for an emperor. Usually in combination with the prefix Phra Chao. chakravartin (चक्रवर्तिन्) Sanskrit. 'Universal monarch'. Indian royal term used for the Buddha as the spiritual ruler of the universe. Chakri (จักรี) The dynasty that has reigned in Thailand since 1782 and was founded by general Chao Phya Chakri who was crowned king Phra Phutta Yotfa Chulalok, known to westerners as king Yot Fa. During the reign of king Phra Nang Klao, the third king in the dynasty, a new royal title system was established giving all the kings the crown title of Rama. His predecessors were posthumously given the titles Rama I and Rama II, whilst taking the title Rama III for himself. All successive kings of the dynasty have since ruled with the crown title Rama, including the present king, Rama IX. With Rama being the seventh avatara of the powerful Hindu god Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, the link can be seen to the Thai monarch as the preserver of the nation. The Thai royal emblem is likewise the mythical bird Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu. Note that there have been nine avataras of Vishnu with the tenth yet to come, as there have been nine Chakri monarchs, the tenth is yet to come. MORE ON THIS.
Thai public holiday on April 6, on which Phra Phutta Yotfa Chulalok, the founder of the Chakri dynasty is remembered. In Thai Wan Chakri. The largest of the palace buildings of Phra Rachawang, the Grand Palace. It was designed by the British architect John Chinitz and shows a combination of Thai and European style architecture. The central mondop-like multi-tiered spire on the roof enshrines the ashes of each of the kings of the Chakri dynasty whereas the flanking spires house the ashes of princes who never inherited the throne. Also known as the Grand Palace Hall and in Thai called Phra Tihnang Chakri Maha Prasat. Thai for 'flying a kite', 'kite flying'. See talaew. Name of a crocodile in the Thai classical story Kraithong, a love story that originated in the province of Phichit (fig.). Also Chalawankumphih and sometimes transliterated Shala One. Chalawankumphih (ชาละวันกุมภีล์) See Chalawan. Thai. A small round basket made of bamboo strips with at the top several strips for tying the basket shut. It is used to vend bulked food in at markets. Nationwide, vendors at natural hot springs sell quail's and chicken's eggs in them, to enable visitors to easily cook them.
chalong phra baht (ฉลองพระบาท) 1. Rajasap. Footwear for a king. 2. Thai. Footwear in the form of golden sandals which are a part of the Thai royal regalia or kakuttapan.
Thai. Bowl or rice bowl, or a deep plate. Also written chaam. 1. The inhabitants of central and southern Vietnam since ancient times, probably of Indonesian origin. They founded the Indianized coastal kingdom of Champa and produced a unique style of architecture and sculpture, known as Cham art. 2. Art style with a unique genre of architecture and sculpture between the 7th and 17th centuries AD, made by the Cham people of Champa. Chamadevi (จามเทวี) Thai. Name for Chamadevi of Lopburi,
the former city of
Lavo,
where she originally came from. She was born in 633 AD. Her father send her northwards to
spread civilization and Buddhism where she became the legendary
first ruler of the
Mon city of
Haripunchai (now
Lamphun), part of the 7th Century
Dvaravati
Kingdom. She gave birth to a twin,
Mahantayot
and Anantayot, of whom
the first one succeeded her as
ruler of Lamphun
while the latter became ruler of
Lampang.
Sanskrit. 'Yak tail'. A whisk or fan made from the hairs of a yak's tail. It is a symbol of kingship and the attribute of several gods from Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. In Thailand it is one object of the padwaanlawichanih (fig.) a part of the royal regalia, called kakuttapan. In Thai jamajurih. Name of a small tropical lizard that is able to change colour according to its surroundings, for camouflage or when offended. The word chameleon is derived from Greek and means ground-lion (fig.). Its scientific name is colotes and it belongs to the family of agamidae. It has a long body and tail, four legs, and a rough scaly hide. In former days it used to be called pom kahng in Thai, but nowadays it is named king kah.
See phumriang. Champa (चम्पा) An early Indianized kingdom in the coastal areas of central and southern Vietnam, existing from the 2nd to the 15th centuries AD and inhabited by the Cham. It was briefly annexed and controlled by the Khmer between 1181 to 1220, then gradually absorbed by the Vietnamese from the late 10th to 17th centuries AD. There are important archeological Cham sites in the region of present day Danang, Vietnam. Thai. A species of jackfruit, genus artocarpus. The fruit is comparable to the breadfruit and the kanun, but slimmer in shape. Its fruiting season is from May to November.
Champasak (ຈໍາປາສັກ, จำปาศักดิ์) Lao-Thai. Former capital of the Cham in present southern Laos. It was a kingdom of the Khun Lo Dynasty, that in 1713 broke away from the Lan Xang kingdom. But it soon became a vassal state of Siam and later, in 1904, a French protectorate. Also called Cyambo. Sanskrit. The goddess of death and destruction, one of the malicious aspects of Devi, the consort of the Hindu god Shiva. Thai.
Name of one of the famous
1. Thai for 'moon'. See also Chandra. 2. Nickname for Thep Krasatri. Sanskrit. 'Eagle'. A symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism. Chinese. 'Moon toad' or 'toad'. Name for the Lucky Money Toad. Chan means both 'toad' and 'moon' in Chinese and 'moon' in Thai. In Thai it is called kaangkok sawan. Sanskrit. Siddhartha's servant who initially accompanied him during the Great Departure. MORE ON THIS. Sanskrit. 'Cruel'. One of the fierce forms of Devi. Chandra (चन्द्रा) Sanskrit. 'Moon'. The Hindu moon god. Discovered the deceit by the demon Rahu during the distribution of the amrita, together with Surya, the god of the sun. They reported this to Vishnu, who immediately cut the demon in half with his disc. However, the amrita taken by Rahu already had its effect and both parts lived on separately. Since Rahu never forgot the betrayal by the sun and moon, he now chases them alternately with his mouth wide open, and when swallowing them causes the eclipses of the sun and moon. The name Chandra derived from the Sanskrit word chand, meaning 'to shine'. In Thai Chan. Sanskrit. The gleaming scimitar that Ravana received from Shiva as a favour. Thai for 'elephant'. See Asian Elephant. 1. Thai. 'Water elephant'. Mythological animal with the characteristics of both elephant and fish.
2. Thai. 'Water elephant'. Thai name for a hippopotamus. Thai for White Elephant. See also Thahng Chang Pheuak. Chinese. Name of a semi-mythical supposed 13th century Chinese Taoist monk who is believed by some to have achieved immortality. There are many myths and folktales about this figure and according to some sources he was a former Shaolin disciple who had left the Shaolin temple to establish a Taoist mountain monastery. Other sources make record of at least two Chinese emperors sending missions to Chang Sanfeng to ask for his advice, but neither mission is reported to have found him. Due to his legendary status he is frequently presented as a spiritual teacher and master of Chinese martial arts, including as a grandmaster of tai chi chuan. Before he became a Taoist his name is said to have been Zhang Junbao. Also transcribed Zhang Sanfeng.
Thai. 'First Elephant'. The Elephant of State on which the kings formerly rode during state ceremonies and which would have been a White Elephant (fig.). 1. Thai for gibbon. In this context the word is also used derogatory for women, since the gibbon call sounds like 'phua', the Thai word for husband, thus indicating a gibbon sounds like a woman who is calling for her husband. 2. Thai. A kind of durian. Sanskrit. The male servant of prince Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. Thai. 'Matriarch' or 'mother'. Thai name for the mother of a king, or for a noble widow. Her full title is Somdet Phra Borom Raja Channanie or Somdet Phra Pan Pie Luang. See also chanok. Also pronounced Chonnanie.
1. Rajasap. 'Patriarch' or 'father'. Thai name for the father of a king. His full title is Somdet Phra Borom Raja Chanok. See also channanie.
2. Rajasap. Name of the second incarnation of the Buddha in the Totsachat-stories, before his Enlightenment when he was still a bodhisattva. Thai. 'City of the moon', 'moon town'. The capital of Chanthaburi province (map) in East Thailand, 245 kms Southeast of Bangkok, and with a population of approximately 40,000. Like Trat, the city is known for the trade in sapphires and rubies and for the nearby mining of these gemstones. The province is the country's main production centre for dried rice noodles and it is the place where general Taksin formed an army to drive away the Burmese after they had conquered and destroyed Ayutthaya in 1767, causing its definitive downfall. This event is remembered in the town by a monument in King Taksin Park (fig.). The province also has several national parks, the more popular being Nahm Tok Phliw National Park (fig.). The province has 9 amphur and one king amphur.
1. Thai. A title denoting greatness, used for royalty, princes, lords, potentates and rulers in Thailand and Laos, like in Chaochai (prince), Chaoying (princess) and Chao Phrya (nobleman of the highest rank). 2. A Thai pronoun in the second person, nowadays used only when speaking to an inferior, equivalent to you. In obsolete or poetic usage, it is equivalent to 'thou' or 'thee', used especially when talking to one's wife. 3. A Thai pronoun in the third person, in obsolete or poetic usage, especially when referring to a woman, equivalent to 'she' or 'her'. 4. A term of assent used by women in northern Thailand to address an equal. It is a polite term identical to the central Thai word 'kha' used by women and 'khrab' used by men to express agreement or added to a phrase in order to show good manners. Thai for 'prince'. Thai. 'Lord of Life'. Title formerly used for a sovereign, especially during the Ayutthaya period until the beginning of the Rattanakosin period. Thai. Housemaster. A priest who has charge of the monks in a temple building or a portion of a monastery. Chao Kawila (เจ้ากาวิละ) Thai. Ruler of Lampang and Chiang Mai in the beginning of the Chakri dynasty. He was born in 1742, the first of ten children of Prince Chai Kaew of Lampang. After he had succeeded his father as ruler of the city he joined forces with Prince Chaban of Chiang Mai in a plot to rid the cities of oppressive Burmese rule. They sought the help of King Taksin who sent an army under the command of Chao Phrya Chakri. With combined forces they overthrew the Burmese in Lampang in 1774 and in the night of February 14, 1775 also Chiang Mai fell to the Siamese. However, due to Burmese counterattacks Chiang Mai had to be abandoned and was only formally reoccupied in March 1796. By then Chao Phraya Chakri had become King Rama I and in 1802 he officially appointed Kawila as ruler of Chiang Mai, in lieu of the late Prince Chaban who had died at the end of the Thonburi Period. Kawila continued with campaigns against the Burmese and placed his brothers as rulers of other northern cities, whilst Kawila's sister, Princess Sri Anocha, married to Prince Boonma, King Rama I's only brother. In 1815 Chao Kawila died of fever. He was the first king of Lan Na under Siamese rule. His full title is Phra Chao Boromma Rachathibodi Kawila.
Thai. 'Sea people'. Term for the once nomadic sea gypsies who have a long history in Southern Thailand and are believed to be the first settlers in Koh Lanta and other islands of the Andaman Sea. They are ethnically separated from Southern Thais and have their own language and customs. The sea gypsy people support their families through the fishing trade, which has always been the mainstay of their livelihoods. Structural changes in the modern world and loss of fishing ground due to general development have made their way of life increasingly difficult and has put a strain on their unique culture. During full moon of the 6th and 11th months in the lunar calendar the sea gypsies perform a ceremony to bring prosperity and happiness in the forthcoming year. They build a two meter wooden boat, fill it with mementos and then perform a dance before setting it adrift. Also Chao Ley and sometimes called Chao Thai Mai as well. See Chao Phrya. See Chao Phrya. 1. A Thai 'nobleman of the highest rank', a title conferred by former kings. Also transcribed Chao Phya, Chao Phaya and Chao Phraya.
2. Thai. Name of the Chao Phrya river, Thailand's most important waterway that flows through Bangkok and is formed by the confluence of four rivers near the city of Nakhon Sawan, namely the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan and ends in the Gulf of Thailand near Samut Prakan, otherwise known as Meuang Pahk Nahm, the city at the estuary (fig.). Also transcribed Chao Phya, Chao Phaya and Chao Phraya.
See Chao Phrya. Thai for 'princess'. chappannarangsie (ฉัพพรรณรังสี) 1. Thai. Aureole, nimbus or halo. Also radsamie.
2. Thai. Star with six rays or points. See thaan. Belgian pilot who in January 1911 brought aviation to Thailand by carrying out the first flight in the Kingdom with his aircraft the Farman.
1. Thai for chattra. See also ton son chat (fig.). 2. Thai. The wide rim of a gong or kong from which it is suspended. chattra (छत्त्र) Sanskrit. Multi-layered umbrella held over an honoured figure, usually as a symbol of royalty or honour. It sometimes crowns the mast of a Buddhist stupa or chedi (fig.), and in North Thailand is often seen on the roofs of temple buildings, usually in the middle (fig.). In Thai chat or shat. See also noppapadon and ton son chat (fig.).
Thai. 'Quadric circle'. Name of a district in northern Bangkok which has a park and popular weekend market of the same name. These are both situated in between the old and new Mo Chit bus terminals. The park is built on a plot of land donated by the State Railway of Thailand to king Bhumipon on the occasion of his fourth-cycle (48th) birthday on 5 December 1975. The king named the site Chatuchak Park on 8 January 1976 and the park was officially opened on 4 December 1980. It features floral plants, herbal plants, several species of palm trees, a multipurpose ground and the six-country ASEAN Sculpture. There is also a health park built in honor of princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on her third-cycle (36th) birthday. The park is also used as a site for staging public events by its district's residents. The market is located on a 70 rai plot of land South of the park and is the first weekend market in Bangkok. It originally occupied Sanam Luang, where it had been established in 1948 and was then called Sanam Luang Market. In 1982 it was relocated to the present-day site on Phahon Yothin Road, which the State Railway of Thailand had given to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The market at the new location was renamed the Phahon Yothin Market and later, in 1987, the Chatuchak Weekend Market. It claims to have more than 15,000 shops and an estimated 200,000 visitors per day. chedi (เจดีย์) Thai. A bell shaped monument erected to house a holy statue or an object of a prominent person, such as the ashes of important monks and royalty, or relics of the Buddha. In Thailand they are called phra chedi and are most commonly used as a relic shrine. The bell shaped chedi is a copy of the Indian stupa or caitya, in Burma known as zedi or pagode, in Vietnam as chua, in Tibet as chorten, and in Sri Lanka called dagoba. Its typical bell shape (fig.) probably developed from a chattra (fig.), the multi-layered umbrella carried for royalty as a symbol of their dignity as can be seen above some Buddha images today. Plausibly the chattra was initially placed on top of the grave of a deceased member of royalty thus initiating the idea to later replace this rather fragile mausoleum with more sturdy materials. In that way the relic shrine originated simultaneously with the specific bell shape tapering off to a point. The chattra may still sometimes crown the mast of a chedi (fig.). The multi-layered chattra form is clearly seen in the pyatthat (fig.), a typical Burmese style, multi-roofed chedi. In later structures the triphum is symbolically represented, that is, earth heaven and hell.
Chinese name for a state in Cambodia that existed between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. Northern Thai dialect for Chiang Rai. The capital of Chiang Mai province (map) in North Thailand (fig.), situated near the banks of the Ping river at around 745 km North of Bangkok and at an altitude of approximately 310 meters above sea level. It has a population of approximately 168,000 inhabitants. Its former name was Nopburi Sri Nakhon Phing. The province covers an area of 20,107 km² and has 22 amphur and two king amphur. Its places of interest include Thailand's highest mountain Doi Inthanon and the famous Buddhist temple Wat Doi Suthep (fig.). The province is home to several hill tribe peoples and is bordered by Burma in the North, Chiang Rai in the Northeast, Lamphun and Lampang in the East, Tak in the South and Mae Hong Son in the West. Its main waterways are the Ping, Fang, Taeng and Kuang rivers. The occupation of the Chiang Mai people includes trading and business, rice farming, fruit and vegetable cultivation, fresh water fishing and gardening. The province has many lamyai trees. It also maintains a tradition of local handicraft manufacturing such as the making of umbrellas, woodcarvings and furniture, silk weaving, silver and bronze artifacts, etc. Popular in Chiang Mai are the city's daily night bazaar, hiking in the mountains and the giant pandas Chuang-Chuang and Lin-Hui (fig.), for one.
Province and provincial capital (map) in North Thailand. The city lies on the southern bank of the Kok river, at 829 kms North of Bangkok and 185 kms from Chiang Mai, and at an altitude of around 416 meters above sea level. It has a population of approximately 45,000 inhabitants. In northern dialect it is called Chiang Hai. The city was founded in 1262 by king Mengrai as part of the Lan Na kingdom and became Thai territory in 1786. Among the places of interest are Wat Rong Khun (fig.) and Wat Tham Pah Acha Thong with its phra khi mah bintabaat, as well as the city's most important historical monument, Wat Phra Kaew. In this temple the Emerald Buddha was discovered after its octagonal chedi was struck and damaged by lightning in 1434 thus revealing the statue. The province covers an area of 11,678 kms² and numbers around 1,236,000 inhabitants. Its northern border is formed by the Mae Khong river with Laos on the other side, whilst its western border at the Golden Triangle has Myanmar. It is the most northerly province and is 2,100 kms from the southern border. The province has 16 amphur and two king amphur.
1. A town at the banks of the Mekong river in northern Thailand, at the border with Laos. To the Northwest is the Shan State of Myanmar and to the North the Laotian province of Bokeo. It was a Lanna principality, founded in 1328 by king Mengrai's nephew Saenphu. In 1804, during the reign of Rama I, the city was conquered by Chao Kawila because it had been a Burmese stronghold for some time. It was consequently deserted and its inhabitants resettled in other Bangkok-allied Lanna cities such as Lampang and Chiang Mai. An ancient legend says that the city was destroyed by an earthquake as punishment for its inhabitants who, when they were starving because they couldn't find food or catch any fish, they ate a sacred naga which they had caught in the river. Today an archeological site still exists and some monuments found here pre-date Chiang Saen by several hundred years. According to a legend that earlier kingdom was called Yonok. Among the several ancient ruins in the old city are the temples Wat Pa Sak and Wat Mung Meuang. MORE ON THIS.
2. Thai. Northern Thai art style produced in Chiang Saen during the 12th and 13th centuries AD. Thai for betel-set.
chie pa kao (ชีปะขาว, ชีผะขาว) See chie pah kao. Thai. An ascetic with a white cloth or habit. Also chie pa kao. See cayenne. Also spelt chilli. Name for a vast country in Central East Asia which took form in 221 BC through the unification of several feudal states under Chin (Qin) Shih-huang Ti, heir to the throne of Chin, a powerful feudal state in the northwest. After this enforced unification through annexation and warfare, he founded the Chin (Qin) Dynasty, from which China derives its name and proclaimed himself emperor, marking the beginning of Imperial China, a period which lasted until the fall of the Ching (Qing) Dynasty in 1912 and even though the Chin Dynasty collapsed shortly after Chin Shih-huang Ti's death, it formed the model for all later dynasties. In Chinese however, China is called Zhong Guo, literally the 'Middle Kingdom' or 'Central Land', a name that most likely refers to its self-regarded position as the center of civilization during its early history. The modern state which today covers an area of 9,598,086 km˛ and has an estimated population of over 1,321,850,000 is now officially referred to as the People's Republic of China. In Thai called Prathet Jihn. Name for fine white or translucent ceramic ware, porcelain, etc. In Thai called kreuang thuay chaam. Area in Bangkok were a large population of Chinese has been living after they were moved from Banglamphu in 1782 by the then government, to make room to built the new capital Rattanakosin and the Grand Palace Phra Rachawang. It is generally referred to as Yaoraht (Yaowaraht), after its main street. The area has many gold shops and several crowded markets, both with food and wholesale hardware produce. There are several Chinese restaurants and some tea shops. Places of interest include the Mahayana Buddhist temple Wat Mangkon Kamalawat on Charoen Krung Road, the wholesale market at Sampeng Lane and the thieves market Nakhon Kasem.
Wooden frame with rings as an aid to calculate. See also abacus.
Name of an art form and East Asian tradition of writing Chinese characters. There are different types of script being used, i.e. Regular or Standard Script; Semi-cursive or Running Script; Cursive or Grass Script; Clerical, Scribal, Draft or Official Script; and Small or Lesser Seal Script, the latter being the oldest style that continues to be practiced, but with ever fewer people able to read it. Its predecessor, the rugged and blocky Great Seal Script which was in use prior to the invention of the writing brush (fig.), is not used in contemporary Chinese calligraphy. In Regular Script, often referred to as kaishu, each of the strokes is placed carefully with the ink brush being lifted from the paper after every stroke. This makes it the most easy style to read and a appropriate base for other, more flowing styles. In Semi-cursive Script strokes and sometimes characters are allowed to run into one another with the ink brush leaving the paper less often than in Regular Script, whilst in Cursive Script entire characters may be written without lifting the brush from the paper at all, making the characters flow into one another. Although easier to write more fast both Semi-cursive and Cursive Script are much more challenging to read. Regular Script is usually written in Traditional Chinese, although Simplified Chinese may occasionally also be used. Traditionally, Chinese calligraphy is written only in black, as the ink used for it is made from soot, a black powdery deposit from smoke, and binders. By way of identification and instead of a signature, an artist will place a Chinese seal (fig.) in red ink, usually at the bottom of each calligraphic work. See also mao bi and wen fang si bao (fig.).
See dragon. Flat sticks used in Chinese shrines and Thai temples to tell ones fortune. The sticks are kept in a -usually red- cylindrical container and each stick has a number written on it that correspondents with a numbered horoscope-like leaflet that tells your luck for the future. Both the sticks and container are generally made of bamboo or wood. Players will sit on their knees holding the container with both hands, shaking it until just one stick drops out. In Thai they are called siamsih. See also krab.
See kon tamleung thong. Chinese Imperial roof decoration Name for a row of small animal figures, usually made of glazed ceramic and placed, near the corners, on Chinese style roofs. At the head of the row is a man riding either a kilen or a fenghuang, a mythical bird similar to a phoenix, and at the tail of the procession is usually a dragon. In between the two are a number of other mythical animals, their number varying according to the significance of the building, thus indicating the importance of duties performed within it. Their number is usually odd and total maximum nine. Their function is evil-dispelling and they are all squatted, four-footed animals (quadrupeds). Imperial roof decorations can be found all over Southeast Asia and the Far East, especially with Chinese temples. Also referred to as roof figures or roof charms and comparable to the Thai temple roof fittings, called kreuang pradap langka wat (fig.). In Chinese called ji xiang shou, dun shou, zou shou, or yan shou.
See Trut Jihn. See ngiw. See yin zhang. See Cai Shen. See mao bi. Contrary to the West, people in the Far East have a cyclical concept of time, rather than a linear one and the traditional Chinese calendar, for one, is based on a twelve year cycle. It counts the years in sixty year cycles, making use of combinations of two series of numbers, known as the Ten Heavenly Stems (Shi Tiangan) [which are connected with the Five Elements (water, fire, earth, wood and metal) and their corresponding colors] and the Twelve Earthly Branches (Shier Dizhi). The beginning of the cycle is the year 'Jiazi', being the first Heavenly Stem (Jia), combined with the first Earthly Branch (Zi), and the last year of the cycle is 'Guihai', being the tenth and last Heavenly Stem (Gui) combined with the twelfth and last Earthly Branch (Hai). Every year is also represented by a different animal corresponding to the Twelve Branches and known as the Chinese zodiac. Those animals are: the rat (shu), the ox (niu), the tiger (hu), the rabbit (to), the dragon (long), the snake (she), the horse (ma), the goat (yang), the monkey (hou), the cock (ki), the dog (gou) and the pig (zu). According to this numbering the Year of the Monkey, for example, is called 'Jiashen', being the first Heavenly Stem (Jia), combined with the ninth Earthly Branch (Shen), and the Year of the cock is called 'Yiyou', being the second Heavenly Stem (Yi) combined with the tenth Earthly Branch (You). Note however that to make up a cycle of sixty years, only the half of possible permutations is used. Every sixtieth year is a full cycle and 2007 (Dinghai, zu) was celebrated as the Year of the 'Golden' Pig (fig.), a once in 60 year occurance. The animal signs of the zodiac also have a useful social purpose: instead of asking directly how old a person is, one may ask for someone's animal sign to find out someone's age. This places that person’s age within a cycle of twelve years, and with a bit of logic, one can deduce the exact age. According to Chinese legend, one day the twelve animals quarreled as to who was to head the zodiac, thus a contest was held: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river first would become the leader and the rest of the animals would receive their position according to their finish. The twelve animals gathered at the riverside and jumped into the river. Unknown to the ox however, the rat had jumped upon its back and as the ox was about to climb ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, arriving first and winning the race. The fat and lazy pig ended up last. That is the reason why the rat now stands at the beginning of the zodiac as the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last. See also Chinese Calendar and Chronology. Thai. Name of a pair of small, cup-shaped hand cymbals, joined by a cord. They exist in different sizes and are usually made of a thick and heavy metal, often an alloy of brass and iron mixed with bronze. They are sometimes beautifully decorated. To play, each cymbal is held in a hand, one in the right the other in the left hand, and both are then struck together, once with an outward sliding movement, then straight on, producing alternately a high-pitched pealing sound and a dampening blocked sound. They are used to keep the rhythm in a musical ensemble.
Sanskrit. 'Lord of the universe with a wishing gem'. A form of the bodhisatva Avalokitesvara. Burmese name for the stylized mythical lion seen standing guard at temples. Lions were believed to be the protectors of Buddhist teachings. Sometimes spelled chinthe.
See chintha. Sanskrit. Friend of Usha, the beautiful daughter of Bana. chofa (ช่อฟ้า) Thai. 'Tassel of air' or 'bunch of sky'. The bird's head-like finial at either end of Buddhist temple roofs in Thailand. Although its origin and meaning is disputed it is believed to symbolize either a highly stylized Garuda, the mount of the god Vishnu, or Hamsa, the mount of the god Brahma, both creatures from Hindu mythology. Possibly placed to attract worshippers from Hindu religion to Buddhism. Most temple roofs have a combination of a chofa, bai raka and hang hongse (fig.). In a few a chofa with a different form (fig.) can be seen and some are tapering roofs decorated with multiple chofas (fig.).
1. A dynasty and kingdom in South India during the 10th and 13th centuries AD. 2. An art style from the Chola kingdom, known for its bronze sculpture. Chom Klao (จอมเกล้า) Thai name for king Mongkut, the fourth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, with the crown title Rama IV. Thai for 'rose apple', a fruit and tree (fig.) with the Latin name syzygium malaccensis, also translated as malay apple. It has the shape of a pear and varies in colour from green (chom phu thun klao) to red (chom phu thab thim). Refreshing but not very sweet.
Name of a monkey soldier in the epic Ramakien. He was made by Shiva's sweat to become a son of Bali. Also Chomphoophan. chom phu thab thim (ชมพู่ทับทิม) Thai. Red rose apple. See chom phu (fig.). chom phu thun klao (ชมพู่ทูลเกล้า) Thai. Green rose apple. See chom phu (fig.). Sanskrit-Thai. 'Lord of the three worlds'. A name for Shiva. Also Chom Trai Pop. See Also triphum. See Chom Trai Lohk. The capital of Chonburi province (map) on Thailand's west coast, 81 kms from Bangkok, on the east side of the Gulf of Thailand. In this province are some places of interest, including the popular beach resort towns of Bang Saen, Pattaya and Jomtien (map), as well as the cities Sri Racha, Sattahip and Laem Chabang which has an international seaport. Off the coast are the islands Ko Si Chang, Ko Lan, Ko Phai and Ko Khram. There are plenty of tourist attractions, such as Nong Nooch Garden (fig.), Sri Racha Tiger Zoo (fig.), Anek Kusala Sala (fig.), the Million Years Stone Park (fig.), Mini Siam (fig.), Prasat Satjatham, etc. The province has ten amphur and one king amphur.
Chong Kai (ช่องไก่) Thai. Cemetery for the war victims of WW II who died during the construction of the infamous Burma railway in the province of Kanchanaburi. This cemetery is about two kilometers from the centre of town, on the grounds of a former camp for POWs, on the left bank of the river Kwae Noi. 1,750 allied soldiers are remembered here. See also Don Rak. Thai name for a small tropical tree with purple and white flowers that grows from India to the Malay peninsula. It is sometimes called Indian orchid and its Latin name is bauhinia purpurea.
Rajasap for 'age' of 'aging', as in Wan Chaleum Phra Chonma Phansa. See Channanie. Northern-Thai name for a bamboo net used to catch fish and other aquatic animals. It is woven from thin bamboo strips called tok, into a triangular shape with a long handle. It is for use in places with shallow water such as shorelines, creek and river edges, reservoirs, rice paddies, etc.
See takiab. Tibetan word for stupa or chedi, usually in a miniature form. Name for an up to three meters high poisonous shrub, that belongs to the family of spurges and in Thailand blooms from October to February. Its milky sap or latex, as well as its leaves are very irritating for the eyes, skin and digestive system. There are varieties with flaming red, dark red, salmon, white or pale yellow bracts, that are arranged in a star-shape, around small flowers which are mainly of a yellow colour. Also known by the scientific name euphorbia pulcherrima and in Thai as dok krismas.
Vietnamese for pagoda or chedi. 1. Thai. A 'male' kite, with a pentagonal shape, that is used against the pak pao (fig.), the 'female' kite, during contests. These competitions are held at the beginning of the hot season, in Bangkok usually at Sanam Luang, the large field in front of the Royal Palace. The intention of both parties is to try and take out the opponents kite. The male kite is named after king Chulalongkorn during whose reign kite flying became a popular sport, mainly due to his support. Also called kula. See also kite flying fights.
2. Thai for 'tonsure'. Thai name for king Chulalongkorn, the fifth monarch of the Chakri dynasty with the crown title Rama V.
Thai. Name of a stupa containing hair from the Buddha in Tavatimsa heaven. Chulalongkorn (ชูละลองคอน, จุฬาลงกรณ์) English-Thai. Fifth monarch of the Chakri dynasty with the crown title Rama V. He was born on 20 September 1853 and became king in 1868. He introduced western influences in Thailand and abolished slavery. He is probably the most popular sovereign of the present dynasty after king Bhumipon Adunyadet. His picture is depicted on ten baht banknotes. In the beginning of the nineties a true cult originated around Chulalongkorn in which the spirit of the deceased monarch is worshipped. The cult is especially strong in Bangkok and other large cities, as most followers belong to the upper middle class and nouveau riche. The Chulalongkorn University, founded by Rama VI, is named after this king and is the most prestigious house of learning in the country. Among the Thais he is known as Chulachomklao and by the predicate Piya Maha Raj. See also Wan Piya Maha Raj.
Annual Thai public holiday on October 23 in commemoration of king Chulalongkorn. In Thai Wan Piya Maha Raj, literally 'day of the beloved great king'. Chulaphorn Walailak (จุฬาภรณ์วลัยลักษณ์) Third daughter and fourth child to king Bhumipon and queen Sirikit. Born in Dusit on 4 July 1957. Chularachamontrih (จุฬาราชมนตรี) Leader or head of the Muslim people in Thailand. Thai. 'Gathering of troops' or 'gathering of an army'. The word occurs frequently in Thai nomenclature, e.g. in the name of a gate in Nakhon Ratchasima, and the city name of Chumphon is derived from it. The small capital of Chumphon province (map) with just around 15,000 inhabitants, situated on the peninsular east coast near the Gulf of Thailand, 463 kms South of Bangkok. Chumphon is the most northern province of the South Thailand region (map) and here the one road from the North to the South forks to Ranong and Surat Thani. Chumphon's name is probably derived from its location at this crossroad, a meeting place or place were 'gather', as chumphon (with a different Thai spelling) means 'gathering of troops', a reference also to the presence of an earlier army camp in town where warriors from the region gathered before going into battle. This province has eight amphur.
1. Sanskrit. The blacksmith who offered the Buddha the food that made him fatally ill, at Pava. 2. Sanskrit. A goddess, one of the five Taras of Vajrayana or Mantrayana Buddhism. See Zhong Kui. Thai name for a 'candleholder' or 'candlestick'. In Buddhist temples (fig.) and at other places of worship these candleholders often take the form of Suphanahongse, the King's personal Barge, a boat with the figure head of a mythical swan called hongse.
Chinese. 'Spring Festival', that is Chinese New Year. Also Xin Nian, literally 'New Year' and Guo Nian, 'pass the year'. In Thai Trut Jien. To obtain the amrita, the nectar of immortality, the gods and demons churned the Ocean of Milk. They placed the peak of Mt. Meru upside-down in the ocean and used the snake Ananta as a stirring rope, whilst Vishnu incarnated as a tortoise -his second avatar- to support the mountain with its shell, thus preventing it from sinking in the soft mud of the sea floor.
Latin-English. 'Tree cricket'. Name of an insect of the order hemiptera in the family cicadoidea and of which there are many species. They are usually more often heard than seen and are a symbol of the wild. They are especially recognized by their loud distinctive sound produced by only the males (to attract females) and which can be as loud as over a hundred decibels, making them among the loudest of all insects. Their sound is produced by complex membranes on the sides of the abdominal base and which are called tymbals. They produce their high pitched noise by rapidly vibrating these membranes whilst enlarged chambers derived from the tracheae amplifies the sound even more. They can also modulate the noise by wiggling their abdomens toward and away from the surface that they are on. They have rather small eyes that sit wide apart on the head and short antennae. Their typically transparent wings are well-veined and adults are generally between 2 and 5 centimeter long (fig.), although some tropical species may reach up to 15 centimeter, like the pomponia imperatoria from Malaysia. Their life cycle (fig.) starts when a female deposits her eggs into the bark of a twig after mating. When the eggs hatch, the newborn nymphs drop to the ground, where they burrow and start their underground lives. Finally they dig an exit tunnel using their strong front legs and surface (fig.). Then they moult by shedding their skins on a nearby plant or tree and emerge as an adult. Cicadae are not harmful to humans and they don't bite or sting. Some people eat them and they are used in traditional Chinese medicine for hearing-related problems. In Thai called jakkajan.
The dried inner bark of the cinnamon tree, belonging to the genus cinnamomum. Cinnamon is used as a spice. In Thai obcheuy.
Sanskrit. 'Collector of secrets'. Name of Yama's scribe, the Vedic god who presides over the dead. He is depicted carrying a pen and book in which he records the good and bad deeds of mankind. In Thai tradition the god of the dead is called Phra Yom, and has two scribes, namely Suwan and Suwaan. Whereas Suwan keeps record of the good deeds of humankind, Suwaan records their bad deeds. Both are depicted with a pen and book, and act as advocate and accuser respectively, on judgment day. Also Chitragupta.
Name of a venomous hooded snake found in South Asia and Africa. Its name is derived from the Latin word colubra, meaning 'serpent'. The snake family Colubridae is named after it and includes well over half of all snake species on earth. Cobras however, belong to the family Elapidae, more specifically the genus Naja, which includes amongst others the Ophiophagus hannah (King cobra) and the Naja naja (Indian cobra). When threatened, cobras will expand their hood and raise the anterior third part of their body. In Thai its general name is ngu hao, literally 'barking snake', a descriptive term referring to its hissing sound when it feels threatened and usually is about to strike.
Edible fruit of the coconut palm or cocos nucifera. Nucifera is Latin for 'nut-bearing' and the word coco comes from Spanish-Portuguese and means 'monkey face'. Spanish and Portuguese explorers found in the hairy nut with its germination pores, the three round indented markings found at the base of the coconut, a certain resemblance to a monkey's face. Coconuts grow in clusters high up at the stem of the coconut palm and are at first of a green colour (fig.). When ripening into full-grown nuts their colour gradually changes to a yellowish brown. Depending on their use the nuts need be picked at a certain stage and coconut palm plantations often use trained macaques for handpicking them (fig.). When utilized for their juice they need to picked when still green and are then opened with a machete to get to the sap. Fresh coconut water is a very nutritious, natural isotonic beverage and by roasting or burning a coconut (fig.) the sugars in the sap concentrate, enhancing the taste. However, if wanted for their flesh the nuts need to ripen a little longer and the sap becomes useless. When the fruit of flesh has become thick enough the nuts are picked and stripped of their outer husk by spiking them on a large metal pin (fig.). This rends the fibrous husk which is subsequently removed revealing the even harder inner shell. The inner shell is much thinner and either of a creamy colour with young nuts, or dark brown with matured nuts. The inner shell is then removed with a small ax and the nut pealed once more, this time with a knife, until only the edible white flesh of the nut remains (fig.). The fruit and both its hard and fibrous husks have many applications (fig.), both industrial and in gastronomy. The outer husk, for one, is used as a natural fertilizer, a breeding ground for orchids and to make coconut doormats. Its flesh on the other hand is grated (fig.) and squeezed to gain coconut milk which in turn is used for the preparation of several Thai curries. On some islands in the Indian Ocean whole coconuts were used as a currency for the purchase of goods until the early part of the twentieth century and burning coconut oil in lamps is said to give a smokeless flame. In Thai (look) maprao.
Milky fluid gained from the flesh of the coconut by grating (fig.) and squeezing it. This milky white liquid is used for the preparation of several Thai curries. Coconut milk is often mistaken for the fresh coconut water in the fruit which is drunk directly from the nut and should be called coconut juice, rather than milk. Especially young nuts are used for their juice. Also called coconut cream and in Thai ka-ti.Palm tree with the Latin name cocos nucifera. Nucifera is Latin for 'nut-bearing' and the word coco comes from Spanish-Portuguese and means 'monkey face', after the shape of the hard brown shell of the coconut. Of this useful tree and its fruit almost every part can be used. From its inflorescence juice is drawn, used for making sugar (fig.) and from the flesh of the coconut coconut milk is gained. Its spathes (broad blades) are used in the making of Phi Tah Khohn masks (fig.). In Thai ton maprao.
Shrub or small tree of the genus coffea, which has around 40 kinds, the best known being coffea arabica from which coffee is made. The fruits are red when they are ripe and each fruit carries two seeds, the coffee beans.
A small decorated column, commonly used in Khmer architecture, usually positioned on either side of a doorway or as lattice in windows. Also pilaster.
See
sih prajam wan An attitude of the Buddha in which he is seated is a half lotus position holding an alms bowl on his lap with his left hand and covering it with his right hand. It refers to the scene in which the Buddha was contemplating the bliss of his Enlightenment underneath a tree when two merchant brothers named Tapussa and Bhallika arrived from the distant town of Ukkala. Upon seeing the Buddha they were filled with faith and offered him some honeyed rice. The Buddha asked them with what he was to receive their offerings and immediately the guardians of the four directions appeared and each gave the Buddha a green marble bowl. Using his divine powers the Buddha then combined the four bowls into one and received the offerings. Also known as uniting the (four) alms bowls.
Architectural term for hollow or arch. See also convex. A shell representing the primordial sound and one of the attributes of the Hindu god Vishnu. It is used in both Hindu and Buddhist rituals. See also Sankha. Chinese religious reformer and philosopher who lived from 551 to 478 BC. Also Konfutse.
See corbeau. Greek national and adviser to king Narai during the Ayutthaya period whose merit availed him the title of Chao Phraya Wichayen, the highest noble title ever given to a foreign national. This happened only twice in Thai history, the second time to the Belgian diplomat Gustave Rolin-Jaequesmyns, an adviser to king Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during the Rattanakosin period. Constantine Phaulkon was born in 1647 on the Greek island of Kefallonia from Greek and Venetian parents, and was originally named Constantinos Gerakes. At the age of 13 he became a cabin boy on an English ship, allowing him to travel and see the world. Dedicated and intelligent, the young adventurer learnt to speak English and Portuguese, and later on when he worked for the English East India Company in Bantam (Java), he also learnt Malay. In 1675 he traveled to Siam to work in the East India Company's office in Ayutthaya, whilst in the mean time also conducting private trade on the side. He soon became fluent in Thai and began to work as a translator at the court of king Narai. Due to his Western origin and experience with the East India Company, he before long rose to the position of adviser to the king, on matters related to the West. He was assigned to welcome foreign delegations and represent Siam in political negotiations. In 1687 he received the highest of civil titles and became a minister under the name Ok Ya Wichayen. Whilst king Narai had welcomed Catholic missionaries and allowed them to built churches, Phaulkon felt he had been called by God to achieve the conversion of the king and all the people of Siam. His high position, however, had earned him the envy of some Thai members of the royal court and when king Narai became fatally ill Phra Phetracha, the foster-brother of king Narai, and Kosa Pan, the son of king Narai's wet nurse, staged a coup d'état and arrested Phra Pui, the royal heir, as well as Phaulkon. Constantine Phaulkon was executed in Lopburi on 5 June 1688, for high treason. Some sources, e.g. the Paston Papers from 1688 by Sydney Paston, suggest that the king's overthrow might even have been plotted by the Sangha, the Buddhist clergy, to prevent the Catholic Phaulkon to try and convert the terminally ill king Narai to Christianity. Constantinos Gerakes (Κωνσταντίνος Γεράκης) The Greek and original name of Constantine Phaulkon. Since gerakes is the Greek word for 'falcon', the surname of this seventeenth century adventurer in literature was changed into Phaulkon. Gerakes is sometimes transliterated as Gerakis. Thai public holiday celebrated on December 10th. In Thai Wan Rattamnoon. Architectural term for sphere, spherical or round. See Also concave. 'Corbelling'. Construction technique using an overlapping arrangement of stone blocks to build arches, domes or roofs. Also console. An ornamental molding along the top of a wall, pillar, pedestal or building. In Thai temples it is often in the form of a lotus (fig.). See also capital. In Thai called bua.
Thai public holiday on May 5th to commemorate the sovereignty and coronation of king Bhumipon in 1946. On this day the king and queen attend an annual memorial ceremony in Wat Phra Kaew. In Thai Wan Chat Mongkon. See Phra Tihnang. Original name of the Italian professor and founder of the University of Fine Arts in Bangkok, Silpa Bhirasri.
Vahana or mount of the Vedic god Varuna. In Thai jorakae. Nurseries for crocodiles, often open to the public offering shows.
Ornament in the form of a half-moon that surfaced during the churning of the Ocean of Milk and which Shiva placed in his hair as a decoration. Latin. Short scientific name for the crinum asiaticum, a tropical plant with pointed single leaves that grow up to 15 centimeters wide and about one meter long. It bears a white bloom that resembles the flower of the spider lily. In Thai called phlab phleung.
Buddha image crowned with some sort of headdress, often a chadah. If this image also wears royal attire and/or jewels, it is known as an adorned Buddha. See reuan kaew. 1. A spice from India, made from the powder of the curcuma root, mixed with pepper, ginger and clove. In Thai karry.
2. Meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in a spicy sauce, usually served with rice or kanom jihn. See noi nah. See Champasak. |
_small.jpg)
-chinese-sign.gif)
_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
,%20a%20Thai%20species%20of%20jackfruit,%20genus%20artocarpus_small.jpg)
%2010_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
,%20male%20Thai%20kite_small.jpg)
_small.jpg)
%202_small.jpg)
