Royal Barge Procession
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Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (
The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52
: วัดอรุณ, 'Temple of the Dawn').History
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession most likely began during the
Most of the vessels in the procession doubled as warships, and when war erupted, the barges and boats were used as weapons.
In 1767,
Chao Phaya Chakri succeeded King Taksin and moved the capital to the east side of the river to what is now known as Bangkok. Chao Phaya Chakri, founder of the
Soon after his
The
Processions took place occasionally until the absolute monarchy ended in 1932. Most of royal barges were kept near Thonburi train station. It was bombed in WWII, destroying a large number of royal barges. They were not employed again until the celebration of the 25th century of the
Modern processions
Occurrences
In the reign of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej (r. 1946–2016), 16 royal barge processions were conducted:
Major sailings
- The Buddhist Era 25th century celebrations - 14 May 1957
- Royal Barge Procession in the Bangkok Bicentenary Celebrations, 5 April 1982
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 20 October 1982
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 16 October 1987 (King's 60th Birthday)
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 7 November 1996 (King's 50th anniversary on the throne)
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 4 November 1999 (King's 6th cycle, 72 years old)
- Royal Barge Procession for APEC Meeting 20 October 2003 [2] Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine[2]
- King's 60th – Diamond Jubilee of the king's accession to the throne. 12 June 2006 (52 barges) (video)
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 5 November 2007 (King's 80th Birthday) (video)
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, scheduled for 22 October 2011 (King's 7th cycle, 84 years old), but postponed due to massive flooding and run on 9 November 2012.[3][4] (video)
- Royal Barge Procession for Thailand's new monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn 12 December 2019 (52 barges) (video)
Additional sailings (Royal Kathin)
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun 15 November 1959
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 2 November 1961
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 22 October 1962
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 15 November 1964
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 19 October 1965
- Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 27 October 1967
- Barge Procession to transport a Buddha Image, 12 April 1982
Fleet formations
The Royal Barge Procession is conducted in one of two formations, the major or the minor. The major formation, also known as the Major Battle Formation (Petch Phuang Major Battle Formation) dates from the time of
Major barge procession formation
Arranged in five rows.
- 1 pair of lead barges which historically carried high-ranking officials with the position equivalent to today's ministry permanent secretary.
- 1 pair of ancient Thai battle boats with cannons at the bow. They historically carried military courtiers.
- 2 pairs of plain outer barges
- 4 pairs of inner barges with decorated mastheads in the shape of the garuda, monkeys, and ogres.
- 1 outer drum boat, 1 inner drum boat, with six musicians each playing the Pi and the klong khaek.
- 1 inner, 1 outer boat for the Royal Police.
- The Ekachai Barge with covered throne for monks' robes, the Buddha image or flower arrangements complete with regalia.
- The Ekachai Hern Hao Barge and the Ekachai Lao Thong Barge, carrying musicians from the Prakhom band of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the military bands of the Royal Thai Army to lead the Royal Barge.
- The Royal Barge with covered throne and regalia
- Pavilion Barge for the king's change of robes
- Second Royal barge
- 1 pair of Police barges
- 2 pairs of Army barges
- 1 pair of plain rear barges
Minor barge procession formation
- 1 pair lead barges
- 1 pair attack barges
- 7 pairs plain barges
- 4 pairs animal masthead barges
- 1 left drum boat, 1 right drum boat
- 2 police boats—left and right
- The Ekachai Barge with a covered throne for the monks' robes, a Buddha figure or a flower arrangement complete with regalia
- The Ekachai Hern Hao Barge with musicians and the Ekachai Lao Thong Barge
- The royal barge with appropriate regalia
- The second royal barge
- 1 pair police barges
The barges
The royal barges
- The royal barge Suphannahong (Thai: เรือพระที่นั่งสุพรรณหงส์; 'Golden Swan' or the 'Phoenix') was built in 1911 during the reign of Rama VI (King Vajiravudh) with a bow resembling a mythical swan, or hong, adorned with gold lacquer and glass jewels, with a crystalline ball and tassel dangling from her mouth. This 46-meter craft was carved from a single trunk of teakwood, and was launched 13 November 1911. There is a golden pavilion on board to house the king and his immediate royal family. Suphannahong is the regular royal barge, if a royal is travelling with the procession. Its hull is painted black.
- The World Ship Trust, in 1992, named the royal barge Suphannahong a Maritime World Heritage.[6]
- The royal barge Anantanakkharat (Thai: เรือพระที่นั่งอนันตนาคราช; Ananta, 'king of serpents') was built during the reign of Rama III (King Nangklao). It was used as the primary royal barge of Rama IV (King Mongkut). The current Anantanakkharat was built during the reign of Rama VI (King Vajiravudh), and launched on 14 April 1914. The bow is carved into the seven-headed Nakkharat, the mystical snake-like creature, in gold lacquer and glass jewels. Anantanakkharat carries a smaller pagoda-like structure to carry holy objects, unlike the others royal barges, which are equipped with pavilions. Her hull is painted green.
- The royal barge Anekkachatphuchong (Thai: เรือพระที่นั่งอเนกชาติภุชงค์; 'variety of serpents') is the oldest of the four royal barges, built in the late-19th century during the reign of Rama V, (King Chulalongkorn). While no mythical figure is readily visible on the bow, numerous small ornamental Nāga figures are carved into the bow. The hull of Anekkachatphuchong is painted pink.
- The royal barge Narai Song Suban Ratchakan Thi Kao or the royal barge Narai Song Suban HM King Rama IX (Thai: เรือพระที่นั่งนารายณ์ทรงสุบรรณ รัชกาลที่ ๙; "God Narayana on his carrier, Garuda") is the only barge built during the reign of Bhumibol Adulyadej, who laid the keel in 1994. It was built under commission by the Royal Thai Navy and the Thai Fine Arts Department and was launched 6 May 1996 to coincide with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. She temporarily took over the role of the main royal barge from Suphannahong for one occasion. She has a red hull. The original Narai Song Suban started life as Mongkol Suban, and had only the Garuda as a figurehead, before having a statue of Narayana retrofitted to her by King Mongkut and renamed Narai Song Suban.
The names of the four royal barges are composed in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachatphuchong". The royal barge's arrangement in the procession would have "Anantanakkharat" leading, with the "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban" and "Anekkachatphuchong" following respectively.
Other barges
Escort barges
-
The bow of barge Asura Paksi[7]
-
The bow of barge Krut (Garuda) Tret Traichak
-
The bow of barge Sukrip (Sugriva) Khrong Mueang
-
The bow of barge Ekachai Lao Thong
Escort barges consist of different classes of barges. Most of their bows are decorated with either a painting or a figurehead of a mythical creature. Other types have less elaborate design. The barges with figureheads have rowers dressed in decorated purple uniforms with pink trousers and red ancient-style helmets with a tall crown and wide brim. The oarsmen on the Ekachai class are dressed in white uniforms with pink trousers and small red headgear with havelocks.
- Ekachai-class barges are two barges with a gold painting of a horned creature that is half-nāga half-dragon, Ekachai Hern How and Ekachai Lao Thong. They might be used to tow Suphannahongse against a strong current or when the royal barge needs assistance. Unlike other escort barges, Ekachai class barges are not equipped with cannon. The two barges can be distinguished by their slightly differing eyes. In the past, there have also been Ekachai-like royal barges, but none are in service today. The Ekachai class is currently used to host musicians.
- Krut-class barges are two barges with garuda figureheads with nagas caught on their wings and feet. The garuda on Krut Hern Het (Flying Garuda) is red while the one on Krut Tret Traichak ('Garuda travelling through the three worlds') is pink.
- Krabi-class barges consist of four barges with Vanara figureheads, Pali Rang Thawip (Vali rules the land), Sukrip Khrong Mueang (Sugriva rules the city), Krabi Ran Ron Rap, and Krabi Prap Mueang Man. The bow of Pali Rang Thawip depicts Vali, the elder brother of Sugriva on Sukrip Khrong Mueang, rulers of the Kishkindha Kingdom. Both have crowns on their heads with their body colors green and red respectively. Krabi Ran Ron Rap and Krabi Prap Mueang Man ('Monkey defeats the city of evil') feature uncrowned warriors of Vanara Nilaphat (black body) and Hanuman (white body), respectively.
- Asura-class barges are two barges with half-bird, half-ogre figureheads. The bow on Asura Vayuphak has an indigo body in a purple coat; Asura Paksi has a green body in a purple (front) and green (back) coat.
- Suea-class barges are barges with the painting of a tiger, Suea Thayan Chon and Suea Kamron Sin. The names of the barges are clearly written on the bow in red lettering.
- Thong barges are the twin barges that lead the procession. They are shaped much like a smaller, much less elaborate version of Anekkachatpuchong and are painted with their names in white on their bow freeboard area; the tips of their bow and stern are painted in gold. The men on these boats are dress like those on the royal barges, but not entirely alike.
Lesser escort barges
Most of the barges of the fleet are lesser escorts and attendants such as Ruea Dang, Ruea Saeng, police barges, and drum barges. They have no figurehead or cannon. They are painted mostly black, and their type, number, and name (if they have one) is painted on their bows in white. They can be differentiated as follows:
- Police barges have rowers dressed in black and have a relatively flat bow and stern, with the stern raised slightly higher than the bow.
- Saeng barges have a flat bow and stern, but rowers are dressed in white and black headgear; there are also slightly more rowers on these boats. The boats number from one to seven.
- Dang barges have a more pronounced bow and stern, with their shapes similar to those found on the Anekkachatpuchong and the Thong barges, but are smaller, painted black, and less elaborate. These boats number from 1 to 22. Their oarsmen are dressed in black uniforms similar to those of the rowers on royal barges, with red trim on their uniforms.
- The Tangmo ('watermelon') and the E. Leeung barges precede the royal barges. They are shaped like the Police and Saeng barges, but are smaller and sit lower in the water. The oarsmen dress like the rowers on the Saengs.
Preservation
The present fleet of barges was restored during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as some had suffered damage in bombing raids on Bangkok during
See also
- Monarchy of Thailand
- Coronation of the Thai monarch
- 60th Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession
References
- ^ a b History, National Museum of Royal Barges, accessed 31-05-08. Archived 2008-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The only major sailing to have taken place at night, with the river illuminated by submerged lights [1] Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine[failed verification]
- ^
Government Public Relations (26 October 2012). "The Crown Prince to Travel by Royal Barge to Wat Arun for the Royal Kathin Ceremony". Inside Thailand. Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Maha Vajiralongkornwill represent His Majesty the King in traveling by royal barge to Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, for the Royal Kathin Ceremony.
- ^ Richard Barrow (11 November 2012). "Royal Barge Procession: 9 November 2012". Thailand Festivals and Events 2012. Festivals of Thailand. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
The procession, which is also to celebrate the 85th birthday anniversary of His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej the King on 5 December 2012, will take place between 3 pm and 5pm on 9 November 2012.
[failed verification] - ^ Nanuam, Wassana; Ochakhachorn, Sunan (2019-03-26). "Navy calls on boat goddess to protect King's barge". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- ^ http://www.worldshiptrust.org/awards.htmlAward Number 8, 4 June 1992 Archived 8 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Asoon Puksa". Himmapan. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ Exhibition, National Museum of Royal Barges, accessed 31-05-08. Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- "Royal Barges" (Thai Language); Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister; ISBN 974-7858-92-4[dead link]
- Technical Description of Royal Ceremonial Barges, Royal Thai Navy (accessed November 12, 2007).
External links
- LINE-UP OF MAJOR ROYAL BARGE PROCESSION
- Royal Kathin Ceremony
- Royal Barge Procession Photos (Java-enhanced photos of the APEC 2003 Royal Barge Procession).
- Royal Barge Procession Video ( Dress rehearsal for the Royal Barge Procession on the JAO PHRAYA river, Bangkok, Thailand, 7 October 1999).