IMPLEMENTATION OF LITERARY ART TO ISAN FOLKTALE OF PHADAENG NANG AI LEGEND

Abstract

The objective of the academic article was to study the literary art (the art of literature) of the imagery narration in one of the best-known folktales in Northeast Thailand of Isan, the romantic legend of Prince Phadaeng and Princess Nang Ai, composed by Kittithorn Kotchateep from the plot by So Phayak, a pseudonym of Suttha Sophakul. It was the Isan folklore in Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani Province, written in the form of Thai octameter poem. The legend comprised of six parts: the previous life, the present existence, the rocket festival, hunting a rare wild white albino squirrel, the collapse of Chathita Nakhon (currently located at the vicinity of the Nong Harn Lake), and the battle drumming. It reflected the beliefs of the ancient Lan Xang people, especially the beliefs in spirits and angels, and the supernatural phenomena influencing human lives in the northeastern region of Thailand. There were two main points in the study. The first was the imaginary narration of the spiritual places on the underground city (Mueang Badan in Thai), the beliefs of local people, crucial cultures and traditions on Buddhism, and the Buddhist teachings. All of them reflected the concepts of Karma (the law of action), the Buddha’s teachings, love, and gratitude. The second was the imaginary narration of the physical places on the beauty of a woman, the hometown, the hometown’s name, the natural surroundings, the battle between humans and nagas, and significant natural places.