A Clappers in the Royal Ceremony of Thailand

Abstract

          There is evidence that clappers have been used to accompany music and singing since the Dvaravati Period. Clappers have also played an important role in ceremonies in connection with the royal duties of the King since ancient times. There is for example an engraved image of a Brahman playing clappers on the road on the wall of the porch of Angkor Wat in the era Suryavarman II in the 12th century. Nowadays, the tradition appears only in the Thai royal court. The clappers used are called "Krap Puang". This appeared in the royal ceremonies where the King came to join the congregation and the ceremonies related to the procession. Clappers were used as an instrument to give signals that royal ceremonies were about to begin. Clappers can therefore be classified as one of the regalia used to honor the king, as well as to build up the grandeur of such royal ceremonies. They indicate the royal status, royal power and represent the mighty sovereignty, which can find no equal.