The Literary Conventions of Legendary Narratives in Thai Royal Chronicles
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Abstract
Background and objective (s): Thai royal chronicles constitute a distinct body of writing that has received extensive scholarly attention as historical evidence, as historiographical texts and as literary works in their own right. However, no existing study has sufficiently examined how these chronicles are constructed through the integration of literary conventions associated with various genres, particularly those of legendary narratives. The research for this article, therefore, aimed to analyze the literary conventions that inform the construction of Thai royal chronicles, with a particular focus on their relationship with legendary narrative traditions.
Methodology: This study employed close reading as the primary method to analyze the literary conventions related to legendary narratives in the construction of Thai royal chronicles. The scope of the study included all 23 extant versions of the chronicles composed between approximately 1448 and 1928 CE. The analysis examined both the modes of application and the narrative effects of these conventions on the construction of the chronicles.
Main result: The findings reveal that the construction of Thai royal chronicles incorporates three types of legendary narrative conventions: legends of the culture hero, legends of the city and legends of the Buddha’s relics. These conventions were adapted to serve the overarching purpose of conveying the central idea that the monarch plays a vital role in preserving and perpetuating the continuity of the kingdom. As such, the use of these three types of legendary narratives has been instrumental in portraying the virtues and significance of kingship in maintaining the unity, stability and prosperity of the realm.
Relevance to Thai Studies: This research examined Thai royal chronicles, a corpus of writing that holds significant cultural importance within Thai society. The study also highlights the connection between these texts and myth – narratives that are deeply intertwined with the ways of life and worldview of Thai people.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a defining characteristic of Thai royal chronicles is their presentation of historical events and royal biographies as narratively and artistically composed stories. This literary form emerged from the transmission and creative development of traditional conventions drawn from ancient Thai literature, particularly those associated with legendary narratives. As a result, Thai royal chronicles exhibit literary qualities that are essential features of literary works.
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