Wisdom in the Thai Literature of the Sukhothai Period:A Case Study of the Art of Descriptive Writing
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background and objective (s): Thai literature from the Sukhothai period demonstrates literary wisdom through the use of beautiful and artistically descriptive language. The research for this article aimed to examine the wisdom found in Sukhothai literature, focusing on the wisdom of the poets in the art of creating detailed descriptive language.
Methodology: This research was a qualitative study that focused on a critical analysis of Sukhothai period literature found in inscriptions and cosmological literary texts. The focus was on the art of using descriptive language. The analysis results were summarized and then compiled into this research article.
Main result: It was found that poets used descriptive imagery to convey abstract ideas and meanings that were difficult to comprehend clearly and concretely. It was also found that poets arranged the harmony of sounds and meanings in sentences to create aesthetics in storytelling. Furthermore, poets used numbers for descriptions by way of imagery, and hence, conveyed meaning in various ways, including using numbers to compare time periods, using numbers to convey content piece by piece, using numbers to explain mathematical results, and to represent quantity and convey meaning clearly and systematically. The poet’s art of using descriptive language, including the use of imagery, the devising of the harmony between sound and meaning in sentences and the use of numbers, demonstrates the wisdom of the poets in creating literary language that deserves to be recognized.
Relevance to Thai Studies: By understanding the wisdom of Thai poets from the Sukhothai period, this research contributes to raising awareness and appreciation for the value of Thai literature, which deserves preservation and study. This value, especially the beauty of Thai literary language, is a testament to the talent and creativity in the art of language use by Thai poets, worthy of recognition in both Thai and global society.
Conclusion: According to the research findings, Sukhothai poets had extensive knowledge and creativity in conveying beautiful and artistic language, particularly in conveying abstract and difficult-to-understand ideas that needed to be demonstrated clearly and concretely. The ability of the poets to create beautiful works using such descriptive language is the source of the enduring value of the literary texts from the Sukhothai period, which have remained relevant throughout time, from the past to the present.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Journal of Thai studies is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives4.0 Intenational (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, unless otherwise stated. Plese read our Policies page for more information on Open Access, copyright and permissions.
References
Anuman Rajadhon, Phraya. (1969). Lao rueang nai traiphum [Telling stories in the Traibhumi].Bangkok: Aksorn Petchkasem Printing.
Chongstivatana, S. (2006). Choem chan kangsadan : phasa wannasin nai wannakhadi thai [Choem chan kangsadan : The Literary Language in Thai Literature]. 2nd edition. Bangkok: Academic works dissemination project, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University.
Fine Arts Department. (2004). Sila charuek sukhothai lak thi 1 charuek phokhun ramkhamngae [Sukhothai inscription No.1 of King Ramkhamhaeng]. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department.
Fine Arts Department. (2005). Prachum charuek phak thi 8 charuek sukhothai [The Collection of Sukhothai Inscriptions, Volume 8]. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department.
Fine Arts Department. (2008). Charuek lanna phak 2 lem 1-2: charuek changwat chiang mai lampang lamphun lae mae hong son [Lanna Inscriptions, Part 2, Vols. 1-2: Inscriptions from Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son]. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department.
Fine Arts Department. (2013). Wannakhadi haeng chat lem 1 [National Literature Volume 1]. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department.
Keatnapat, T. (2023). Wannakhadi sukhothai [Thai literature of the Sukhothai period]. 6th edition. Bangkok: Ramkhamhaeng University Press.
Kobbun, P. (2005). Puccha-vissajjana : a literary technique in Buddhist Thai literature. [Doctoral dissertation, Chulalongkorn University]. https://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/71496
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya. (1996). Phratraipidok phasa thai chabap maha chula longkon na rat witthayalai lem 16 [Thai Tripitaka, Mahachulalongkornraja vidyalaya University Edition Volume 16]. Bangkok: Mahachulalongkornrajavi dyalaya University.
Manlikamas, K. (1994). Thai wisdom embedded in literature. In Phumpanya thai nai phasa lae Wannakhadi [Thai wisdom in language and literature] (p.73-75). Bangkok: Siam University. Ministry of Culture. (2016). watthanatham withichiwit lae phumpanya [Culture, way of life and wisdom]. Bangkok: Ministry of Culture.
Na Nagara, P. (2004). Kan athibai sila charuek samai sukhothai [Explanation of the Sukhothai Inscriptions]. Nonthaburi: Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Printing House.
Na Thalang, E. (1999). Educational concepts and the transmission of local wisdom. Journal of Education Studies, 27 (2), 1-21. https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/educujournal/vol27/iss2/1
Pienchob, S. (1999). phumpanya thai nai phasa [Thai wisdom in language]. Bangkok: Thai Language Institute, Department of Academic Affairs, Ministry of Education.
Raksamani, K. (2004a).Thai wisdom embedded in literature. In kusuma raksa mani 60 [Kusuma Raksamani 60] (p.89-96). Bangkok: Department of Oriental Languages, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University.
Raksamani, K. (2004b). lom yao yok kap dokmai. In Sen si lila wannakam [Literary Criticism]. (p.19-22). Bangkok: Maekamphang Publisher.
Raksamani, K. (2006). kan wikhro wannakhadi thai tam thruesadi wannakhadi sansakrit [An Analysis of Thai Literature Based on the Theory of Sanskrit Literature]. Bangkok: Department of Oriental Languages, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University.
Royal Institute. (2001). Photchananukrom sap wannakhadi thai samai sukhothai traiphum katha [Thai Dictionary of Literary Terms, Sukhothai period, Traibhumikatha]. Bangkok: The Royal Society.
Royal Institute. (2013). Photchananukrom chabap ratchabandittayasathan phoso 2554 [Thai Dictionary of the Royal Institute 2011]. Bangkok: The Royal Society.
