Molding a Figure : Constructing Reliability of the Mystical Legends in the Biography of Admiral Prince Abhakara of Chumphon during 1953-1960

Authors

  • Kanest Kangwansurakry
  • Dome Kraipakorn

Keywords:

Historiography, Biography, Prince of Chumphon, Mystical story

Abstract

This article studies the constructing reliability of the mystical legends about Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse’s belief in superstition by analyzing how each biographer affirmed the reliability of the story at his time from the Letter from Luang Raksarajasup in 1953, the first work relating the mystical story, to Commemoration of Ceremony opening ‘Chumphon Khet Udomsak’ Beacon in 1960, the second official biography of the Admiral Prince that accepted the mystical legends to be one of fact. According to the study, the reliability of the mystical legends was constructed by a “set of composition for constructing reliability” that each biographer chose in order to make the story to sound reasonable, realistic and reliable to convince readers to believe that the legends existed in the past, as well as to harmonize with the historical context so that people would recognize that Admiral Prince’s image was a sacred spirit.

Author Biographies

Kanest Kangwansurakry

Master degree student, program of History, Faculty of Social Science, Srinakarinwirot University

Dome Kraipakorn

Assistant professor in Department of History, Faculty of Social Science, Srinakarinwirot University

References

Flecker, J. E. (1946). Hassan. Translated by His Royal Highness Prince Athitthip-apha. Bangkok: Published for remembrance in Cremation of His Royal Highness Prince Athitthip-apha.

Ieosiwong, N. (1969). Prince Damrong Rajanubhab and Arnold Toynbee. The Social Science Review, 7, 1 (June-August), 17-34.

Chao pho Krom Luang Chumphon pho phrathai dai dindaen [Guardian Spirit “Krom Luang Chumphon” was pleased because of retaking territories]. (1941, March 10). Lak Muang [Pillar of the Country], p. 1, 8.

Khumtaveeporn, C. (1991). Somdet krom phraya damrong rachanuphap lae prawattisat niphon Thai samai mai: kan wikhro choeng pratya [Prince Damrong Rajanubhab and Modern Thai Historiography: Philosophical Analysis]. Bangkok: Thammasat University Press.

Naval Education Department. (2007). Phu bangkhap bancha nai adit thung patchuban [Department directors from past to present]. Retrieved from http://www.navedu.navy.mi.th/aboutedu/history_staffedu/index.htm.

Pitukthanin, A. (2007). Cremation Volume: the Site of Memory (chosen). Damrong Journal, 6, 1 (January – June), 134-158.

Royal Thai Navy. (1953-1954) Archive of the History Division, Naval Education Department on Phra ratchaprawat khong Krommaluang Chumphon bang suan [Partial Biography of Admiral Prince of Chumphon].

Royal Thai Navy. (1960). Anuson phithi poet krachomfai Chumphon khet udom sak 20 phrutchikayon 2503 [Commemoration of Chumphon Khet Udomsak Beacon’s Opening Ceremony on 20 November 1960]. Thonburi: Naval Administration Department Press.

R.S. (1956). Kiatprawat Krommaluang Chumphon khe udomsak, wet mon, tamra ya chak khamphi khong (chaopho) [Biography of Admiral Prince of Chumphon, his Magic, and Pharmacopoeia from His Treatises]. Phra Nakorn: Published for remembrance in Cremation of Lieutenant Commander Luang Raksarajasab, Royal Thai Navy (Rak Ekawiphata).

Sattayanurak, A. (2013). Khwammai khong tua ton: phatthanakan nangsu chaek nai ngan sop [Meaning of identity: development of cremation volumes distributed at funerals]. In Prawattisat satsana watthanatham lae kansuksa : ruam botkhwam Thai suksa phua raluk thung sattra chan Ichii Yoneo [History, religion, culture and education: Thai study digest for remembrance of Professor Ichii Yoneo]. C. Nartsupha and C. Soontravanich (Eds.). Bangkok: Sangsan.

Yukol, C., Lieutenant Colonel Momjao. (1991). Anusorn ngan phra rachatan phloeng phra sop phontri phra chao woravongther phraaong chao Chaloemphon Thikhamporn [Commemorationat His Royal Highness Prince Chaloemphon Thikhamporn’s Cremation]. Bangkok: The Agricultural Co-operative Federation of Thailand.

Downloads

Published

14-03-2023

How to Cite

Kangwansurakry, K., & Kraipakorn, D. (2023). Molding a Figure : Constructing Reliability of the Mystical Legends in the Biography of Admiral Prince Abhakara of Chumphon during 1953-1960. Journal of Thai Studies, 16(1), 129–163. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TSDJ/article/view/264145

Issue

Section

Research article

Categories