Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss 
Prolific Thai scholars Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit have posted a detailed Wikipedia entry about the classic Thai poem Khun Chang Khun Phaen. Here is an extract from their fascinating discussion:
Sepha Khun Chang Khun Phaen (Thai: р╣Ар╕кр╕ар╕▓р╕Вр╕╕р╕Щр╕Кр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕Вр╕╕р╕Щр╣Бр╕Ьр╕Щ) is a long Thai poem which originated from a folktale. The story is a classic love triangle, ending in high tragedy. Khun Phaen (dashing but poor) and Khun Chang (rich but ugly) compete for the lovely Wanthong from childhood for over fifty years. Their contest involves two wars, several abductions, a suspected revolt, an idyllic sojourn in the forest, two court cases, trial by ordeal, jail, and treachery. Ultimately the king condemns Wanthong to death for failing to choose between the two men. The poem was written down in the early nineteenth century, and a standard printed edition first published in 1917–1918. Like many works with origins in popular entertainment, it is fast-moving and stuffed full with heroism, romance, sex, violence, rude-mechanical comedy, magic, horror, and passages of lyrical beauty. In Thailand, the story is universally known. Children learn passages at school, and the poem is a source of songs, popular sayings, and everyday metaphors. The poem is also controversial because of its male bias and violence.
I’ve always felt it unfortunate that the most popular piece of Thai folklore – the one piece that the Thai (or at least the Central Thai) could look up to and say, “That’s ours! Not the palace’s or the temple’s” – was so full of sexual objectification and misogynism.
I remember reading about how some Chula professor warned university students that wearing tight shirts and short skirts was like going around with a sign saying “Rape Me” and thinking that she was too much a fan of “Khun Chang Khun Phaen.”
0
0
Yeah, the bit when Khun Phaen disembowells his girlfriend to get his kuman thong is a little unsettling as well, given his status as folk hero.
0
0
Patiwat.
In the discussion page of the above WIkipedia page, I saw your extensive Wikipedia contributions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Patiwat#Contributions
Do you take requests?
“Interior Ministry” is really needed. I couldn’t find anything online describing the extensive and shifting functionality of this important ministry. I use such entries extensively in my day job:
http://readbangkokpost.com/business/
As far as Wikipedia is concerned, I only have enough time for pre-modern Burmese history. I find a lot of your entries like the “Palang Dharma Party” entry very useful. Thanks.
0
0
It’s very hard to do an article on an institution in a way that does the subject justice.
Take a look at Constitution of Thailand, easily my most significant contribution on an institution. Lots of people like to take the snapshot approach on an institution and ignore the historical context (for example, ). For the constitutions of Thailand, it’s important to examine recent constitutions against all previous constitutions in order to appreciate the historical context. Likewise, to examine the current MOI without looking at it through its 70 year history would ignore a lot of issues and historical context.
Besides, you can’t write articles without references, and I don’t have any references on hand on the MOI.
0
0
There was an error in that last link. It should be pointing to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Thailand.
0
0
>Lots of people like to take the snapshot approach on an institution
>and ignore the historical context
Yes, that’s a problem. The sources for many topics of importance in contemporary Thai political economy may just not exist even in the Thai language.
I’ll have to take a day off work and rummage around Chula’s libraries a bit. Government intervention in agricultural markets like rice and sugar, for instance, is another topic I’d like to get a handle on.
Thanks for your feedback.
0
0
Also note that the preferred language for references in the English language Wikipedia is english. Non english references can be used, but are frowned upon.
And don’t bother looking at the Thai language Wikipedia – most articles I’ve seen are a mess. Too many kids writing articles on anime characters and too little interest in writing solid referenced articles on politics, science, and history. Or compare this article with this one.
0
0
Khun Chang Khun Paen is great. It gives a rare glimpse of siamese life in early-mid Ayuddhya period (warfare with Chiangmai, before burmese entered the scene). Don’t the political incorrectness offend you though. The sensibilities of people are different in those days. it is what it is.
0
0
First comment by Pattiwat:
>>I remember reading about how some Chula professor warned >>university students that wearing tight shirts and short skirts >>was like going around with a sign saying “Rape Me” and thinking >>that she was too much a fan of “Khun Chang Khun Phaen.”
Chula is indeed quite conservative on such issues..
0
0