Ramakien
The Ramakien is the Thai version of the Indian literary epic the Ramayana. Essentially, the story portrays the abduction of Rama's wife, Sida, to Langka by the demon king Thotsakan and her subsequent rescue by Rama and a monkey army led by Hanuman. The Thai version has been adapted to a Thai setting and differs from the Indian original in a number of episodes.
The only complete version of the story is one sponsored by King Rama I (1737–1809) written in klon—a four-line verse form—as an accompanying narration for khon, masked drama performances. It is an enormously long work, running to nearly three thousand pages in a recent printed edition, although only certain scenes are ever performed. Other versions include a shorter one written by Rama II (1768–1824), a version based on the Sanskrit original by Rama VI (1881–1925), and episodes attributed to Rama IV (1804–1868).
The Ramakien is much more than a literary classic, and its influence is evident in many facets of everyday life in Thailand. Apart from the dramatic arts, it provides an important source of inspiration in the visual arts, ranging from the famous series of bas reliefs recounting the story at Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Po) temple in Bangkok to the representation of characters in advertisements, tattoos, textbook covers, and tourist souvenirs. The designation of monarchs of the Bangkok dynasty by the title rama, thereby linking the king with the victorious hero, is a further example of the way the epic has filtered into everyday consciousness.
Further Reading
Cadet, J. M. (1975) The Ramakien: The Stone Rubbings of the Thai Epic. New York: Kodansha International.
Mechai Tongthep. (1993) Ramakien: The Thai Ramayana. Bangkok, Thailand: Naga Books.
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