Royal Barge Procession

The royal barge Ananta Nakkharat (1865)

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (Thai: กระบวนพยุหยาตราชลมารค; RTGS: Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years. The exquisitely crafted Royal Barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 60 years, the Procession has only occurred 16 times.

The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges: 51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Po (Thai: วัดโพธิ์), and finally arrives at Wat Arun (Thai: วัดอรุณ, Temple of the Dawn).

History

King Chulalongkorn on Royal Barge Suphannahong.

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession most likely began during the Ayutthaya period in the 14th century. Western visitors witnessed and wrote about the "immense procession with 200 boats" upon their arrival in Thailand in the 18th century. During the processions, the oarsmen were kept in rhythm by the beating of drums, with accompanying music. This traditional boat song was written by Prince Dhamma Dibes of the late Ayutthaya period.

Most of the vessels in the procession doubled as warships, and when war erupted, the barges and boats would be used as instruments of battle.

In 1767, Burma invaded Thailand, and, for the second and last time were able to capture the capital, Ayuttaya. Amid the destruction, the entire fleet was burned and destroyed, after the Burmese found them at their hideaway. General Taksin rallied the Thais and established the new capital at Thonburi. During his short 15-year reign, Taksin ordered the reconstruction of the barge fleet, and used a fleet of 115 barges to carry a revered figure of Buddha to his new capital.

Chao Phaya Chakri succeeded King Taksin, and moved the capital to the eastern side of the river to what is now known as Bangkok. Chao Phaya Chakri, founder of the Chakri Dynasty, ruled as King Buddha Yodfah (Rama I) and began the Royal Kathin Ceremony Procession. The Kathin Ceremony is a presentation of Kathin robes and earns merit by honouring and supporting the Buddhist Monks.

Soon after his accession to the throne in 1782, King Rama I ordered construction of the Royal Barge Si Suphannahong. The Si Suphannahong was the principle Royal Barge for more than a century. In 1911 King Rama VI launched its successor, also named Suphannahong.

The Prince of Nakhon Sawan, during the reign of Rama V, regulated the formations, which became the standard "Major" and "Minor" formations used today.

Processions took place occasionally until the absolute monarchy ended in 1932. And most of royal barge are kept near Thonburi train station and was bombed in WWII destroy a large number of royal barges. They were not resumed until the celebration of the 25th century of the Buddhist Era in 1957. In 1959, Bhumibol Adulyadej revived the Royal Barge Procession as a method to present the Royal Kathin (Robes for monks) in dedicated ceremonies.[1]

Modern Processions

Occurrences

In the reign of the present king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, 16 royal barge processions have been conducted:

Major Sailings

Royal Barge Suphannahong arrived at Wat Arun for Royal Kathin Ceremony

Additional sailings (Royal Kathin)

Organization

The Royal Barge Procession is conducted in one of two formations, the Major and the Minor. The Major formation, also known as the Major Battle Formation (Petch Phuang Major Battle Formation) dates from the time of King Narai. This formation is used for the more significant events, such as The Royal Kathin Ceremony, the movement of the sacred image of Buddha, or important occasions of state. The Petch Phuang Formation is arranged into five columns, with the Royal Barges in the center, and two rows of war barges on each side. In the Minor formation, there are three columns, the Royal Barges in the middle, and a single row on each side.

Major Barge Procession

Arranged in five rows.

Minor Barge Procession

The Barges

The Royal Barges

Crew of Sukrip Khrong Mueang performed the ritual wai to the Mae Ya Nang, the female spirit believed to be in every boat.

The Royal Barge Suphannahong ("the Golden Swan" or the "Phoenix") was built in 1911 during the reign of Rama VI with a bow resembling a mythical swan, or hong, adorned with gold lacquer and glass jewels, with a crystalline ball and tassle dangling from her mouth. This 46-meter craft was carved from a single trunk of teakwood, and was launched 13 November 1911. There is a golden pavilion on board to house the king and his immediate royal family. Suphannahong is the regular royal barge, if a royal is travelling with the procession. Suphannahong's hull is painted black.

The World Ship Trust, in 1992, named the Royal Barge Suphannahong a Maritime World Heritage.[5]

The original Royal Barge Anantanakkharat ("Ananta, the King of Serpents") was built during the reign of Rama III (King Nangklao). It was used as the primary Royal Barge of Rama IV (King Mongkut). The current Anantanakkharat was built during the Reign of Rama VI (King Vajiravudh), and launched on 14 April 1914. The bow is carved into the 7-headed Nakkharat, the mystical snake-like creature, in gold lacquer and glass jewels. 'Anantanakkharat carries a smaller pagoda-like structure to carry holy objects, unlike the others royal barges, which are equipped with pavilions. Her hull is painted green.

The Royal Barge Anekkachatphuchong ("the Variety of Serpents") is the oldest of the four Royal Barges, being the actual barge built in the late 19th century during the reign of Rama V (King Chulalongkorn). While no mythical figure is readily visible on the bow, numerous small ornamental Naga figures are carved into the bow. The hull of Anekkachatphuchong is painted pink.

The Royal Barge Narai Song Suban Ratchakan Thi Kao or The Royal Barge Narai Song Suban HM King Rama IX ("God Narayana on his carrier, Garuda") is the only barge built during the reign of Bhumibol Adulyadej, who laid the keel in 1994. It was built under commission by the Royal Thai Navy and the Thai Department of Fine Arts and was launched 6 May 1996 to coincide with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. Temporarily took over the role of the main royal barge from Suphannahong for one occasion and has a red hull. The original Narai Song Suban started life as Mongkol Suban, and had only the Garuda as a figurehead, before having a statue of Narayana retrofitted to her by King Mongkut and being renamed Narai Song Suban.

The names of the four Royal Barges are composed in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachatphuchong". The Royal Barges' arrangement in the Procession would have "Anantanakkharat" leading, with the "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban" and "Anekkachatphuchong" following respectively.

Suphannahong Anantanakkharat Anekkachatphuchong Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX
Length: 46.15 m 44.85 m 45.67 m 44.30 m
Width at Beam: 3.17 m 2.58 m 2.91 m 3.20 m
Hull Depth: 94 cm 87 cm 91 cm 1.10 cm
Draught: 41 cm 31 cm 1.46 m
Displacement: 15 tons 15.26 tons 7.7 tons 20 tons
Crew: 50 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
2 officers fore
2 officers aft
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
7 bearers of the Royal Insignia		 54 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
7 bearers of the Royal Insignia		 61 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
2 officers (one fore, one aft)
7 bearers of the Royal Insignia		 50 oarsmen
2 steersmen

The Other Barges

Escort barges

Escort barges consist of a few different classes of barges. Most of these boats' bows are decorated with either a painting or a figurehead of a mythical creature. Other types have less elaborate design. The barges with figureheads have their rowers dressed in decorated purple uniforms with pink trousers and red ancient-style helmets with a tall crown and wide brim, while the oarsmen on the Ekachai class are dressed in white uniforms with pink trousers and small red headgear resembling havelocks.

Ekachai Class Barges are the two barges with a gold painting of a horned creature that is half-nāga half-dragon, Ekachai Hern How and Ekachai Lao Thong. They might be used to tow Suphannahongse in case of a strong current or if the royal barge needed assistance. Unlike other escort barges, Ekachai class barges are not equipped with cannon. The two barges can be distinguished by their slightly differing eyes. In the past, there have also been Ekachai-like royal barges, but none are in commission today.

Krut Class Barges are the two barges with garuda figureheads with nagas caught on their wings and feet. The garuda on Krut Hern Het (Flying Garuda) is red while the one on Krut Tret Traichak (Garuda travelling through the three worlds) is pink.

Krabi Class Barges consist of four barges with Vanara figureheads, Pali Rang Thawip (Vali rules the land), Sukrip Khrong Mueang (Sugriva rules the city), Krabi Ran Ron Rap, and Krabi Prap Mueang Man. The bow of Pali Rang Thawip depicts Vali, the elder brother of Sugriva on Sukrip Khrong Mueang, rulers of the Kishkindha Kingdom. Both have crowns on their heads with the body color green and red respectively. Krabi Ran Ron Rap and Krabi Prap Mueang Man (Monkey defeats the city of evil) feature uncrowned warriors of Vanara Nilaphat (black body) and Hanuman (white body), respectively.

Asura Class Barges consists of two barges with half-bird, half-ogre figureheads. The bow on Asura Vayuphak has an indigo body in a purple coat, while Asura Paksi has a green body in a purple (front) and green (back) coat.

Suea Class Barges are the barges with the painting of a tiger, Suea Thayan Chon and Suea Kamron Sin. The names of the barges are clearly written on the bow in red lettering.

Thong barges are the twin barges in the extreme front of the procession, and lead the procession. They are shaped much like a smaller, much less elaborate version of Anekkachatpuchong and are painted with their names in white on their bow freeboard area; the tips of their bow and stern are painted in gold. The men on these boats are dressed in a similar manner to those on the royal barges, but are not entirely alike.

Lesser escort barges

The largest number of barges in the fleet is the Lesser Escorts and Attendants such as Ruea Dang, Ruea Saeng, Police barges and Drum barges. They have no figurehead and no cannon. They are painted mostly black, and their type, number and name (if they have one) is painted on their bows in white. They can be differentiated as follows:

Preservation

The present fleet of barges was restored during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as some had suffered damage in bombing raids on Bangkok during World War II. The dock that stored them, located in the Bangkok Noi district, became the National Museum of Royal Barge.[1] Only eight important barges, including all four Royal Barges, are displayed in the museum due to limits of space. Displayed with the boats are a number of smaller historical artifacts related to the barge processions, such as old procession layout plans and some partial remains of the older decommissioned and/or damaged boats, including the bow and figurehead of the old Narai Song Suban.[7] The remainder are kept at Wasukri Pier, next to the National Library of Thailand. All are stored out of the water to prevent deterioration. They return to Chao Phaya River only for a Royal Barge Procession.

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 History, National Museum of Royal Barges, accessed 31-05-08.
  2. ↑ The only Major Sailing one to have taken place at night, with the river illuminated by submerged lights (video)
  3. ↑ Government Public Relations (26 October 2012). "The Crown Prince to Travel by Royal Barge to Wat Arun for the Royal Kathin Ceremony". Inside Thailand. Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved November 11, 2012. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will represent His Majesty the King in traveling by royal barge to Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, for the Royal Kathin Ceremony.
  4. ↑ Richard Barrow (11 November 2012). "Royal Barge Procession: 9 November 2012". Thailand Festivals and Events 2012. Festivals of Thailand. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved November 11, 2012. The procession, which is also to celebrate the 85th birthday anniversary of His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej the King on 5 December 2012, will take place between 3 pm and 5pm on 9 November 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.worldshiptrust.org/awards.html Award Number 8, June 4th, 1992
  6. ↑ hier
  7. ↑ Exhibition, National Museum of Royal Barge, accessed 31-05-08.
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