Phraya Pariyattithammathda (Phae Talalaksma)’s Dasajataka: A Dual-Purpose Literature

Abstract

         Dasajataka, composed by Phraya Pariyattithammathda (Phae Talalaksma), is an outstanding literature in the reign of King Rama V. The author achieved his goals by managing to adapt Dasajataka (ten incarnations of the Buddha) into both Buddhist didactic literature for virtuous children and a Thai reading practice book. In terms of Buddhist didactic literature for youth, Phraya Pariyattithammathda (Phae Talalaksma) employed various strategies in order to adapt Dasajataka which appeared in Atthakathanibatajataka to be more compatible with readers of every age; for instance, restructuring of Atthakathajataka into luminous children’s stories. The author also revised its contents more concisely and kept the important details in some Dasajataka’s stories to be more appropriate for learners. Presentation strategies of concept were considerably altered, foregrounding basic moral principles instead of charisma, and teachings suitable for learners were also added. In terms of a Thai reading practice book, the author employed various strategies to adapt Dasajataka into a Thai reading exercise book for children, such as using 3 types of Thai verse form, namely Kap Yanee 11, Kap Surangkanang 28, and Kap Chabang 16; presenting its contents based on the convention of Klon Suat; setting the stories to the 10 jatakas (incarnations) of Bodhisattva together with phonics-based instructional method in Thai spelling section; providing instructional method to make learners recognize miscellaneous vocabulary; as well as using alliteration and vowel rhyme within wak in order to make it easier for memorizing. Therefore, Dasajataka is another Thai version of the story of ten incarnations of the Buddha that exemplifies literature preservation and new invention by talented strategies of a poet in adapting and adjusting stories concerning Bodhisattva in the last ten births.