Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

Wat Nakorn-Kosa is a very ancient and abandoned wat located near Pra Prang Sum Yod, the early 13^th century temple, in Lopburi Province (related story on page 29/720).

It has been existed (with different unknown name) since the dawn of Khmer Empire (somewhere between 802-1431) as a shrine for deities derived from Hinduism.

Later on, when the dawn of Khmer Empire faded and Buddhism grew stronger, the place had been changed to a wat and became flourished at its peak in the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya Kingdom (his story can be read on page 31/762) when he had moved his capital from the city of Ayutthaya to Lopburi and fully renovated Wat and gave it the name Nakorn-Kosa (named after a high noble official's name who was responsible for the renovation).

When the reign of King Narai ended and the next king moved the capital city back to the city of Ayutthaya, Wat became deteriorated and finally deserted as seen in this computer colored photo shown below which was taken in the late years of King Rama V (around early 1900s).




Old records say that originally, the area of Wat was immense but in the reign of King Rama V, he ordered railway tracks constructed that cut through the area of Wat. Some old buildings getting in the way were demolished. All the debris was used for track construction.

(Today)

According to the article on page 12/279, The Giant Swing is a religious structure formerly used in an old Brahmanism ceremony. Known locally as "Lo Ching-cha (pulling the swing (= ching cha))”, the ceremony mainly concerned about the time after God Brahma created the world, he sent God Shiva down to earth to look after it and so on.

In the ceremony, the role of God Shiva was very important. The person who took the role was a high ranking noble, “Praya”, whose name, after carefully chosen, was submitted for the king’s final approval.

The person who took the God Shiva’s role was granted, by the king, a name as ‘Praya Yuen Ching-cha (the term ‘Yuen Ching-cha’ roughly put in English as ‘swing standing’)’.

Each Praya Yuen Ching-cha once was selected would have his horoscope checked in order to be in accordance with the date set for the ceremony before announcing publicly.

This computer colored photo shows Praya Yuen Ching-cha for the ceremony in the year 1908 in the reign of King Rama V.


(Note: Look at his rings!)

From a section (on May 7^th, 1821) copied from the Journal of an embassy from the Governor-General of India to the courts of Siam and Cochin-China authored by John Crawfurd published in 1828 (the reign of King Rama III).

John Crawfurd (13 August 1783 – 11 May 1868) was a Scottish physician, colonial administrator and diplomat, and author. He is now best known for his work on Asian languages, his History of the Indian Archipelago, and his role in founding Singapore as the last British Resident of Singapore; the position of Resident was replaced by the Governor of the Straits Settlements.




In 1821 (the reign of King Rama II), the then Governor-General of India, Lord Hastings, sent Crawfurd to the courts of Siam and Cochin-china (now Vietnam). Lord Hastings was especially interested in learning more about Siamese policy with regard to the northern Malay States, and Cochin-china’s policy with regard to French Efforts to establish a presence in Asia.




Crawfurd traveled with notes and from a lot of helps such as a skillful astronomer, surveyor, illustrators, geologist and etc.










The computer colored photo shown below was shot in the reign of King Rama IV showing the belfry of Wat Nak, as described in his note, which is a very old Wat dated back to the late era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.




Wat Nak has its name changed to Wat Praya-Tum Worawihan since the reign of King Rama II. It is now located deep in Soi Arune-Amarin 15, Bangkok Noi.




In 2012, the belfry was badly and tastelessly renovated as shown below.




In 2018, the Fine Arts Department stepped in to fix but unfortunately, due to the weak fundamental structure, some part of the belfry tumbled down trapped a few workers underneath.

The treaty between Kingdom of Siam and Great Britain commonly known as the Burney Treaty was signed at Bangkok on 20^th June 1826 by Henry Burney, an agent of British East India Company, for Britain, and King Rama III for Siam. It came as a result of the two powers having a mutual opposition to the Ava Kingdom.


A Thai duplicate of the Burney Treaty


As the Treaty failed to settle commercial issues, it was led to the arrival of Sir John Bowring to Siam to negotiate a new one. This one was called the Bowring Treaty, signed with King Rama IV on 18 April 1855, that liberalized trade rules and regulations allowing free trade by foreign merchants in Bangkok, as all foreign trade had previously been subject to heavy taxation by the Siamese Crown.

The treaty also allowed the establishment of a British consulate in Bangkok and guaranteed its full extraterritorial powers, and allowed British subjects to own land in Siam.


An example of the Thai version of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the Kingdom of Siam and the British Empire, dated April 18, 1855, also known as the Bowring Treaty, was written on Thai black books prior to being sent to the British Empire to further be affixed with her Great Seal of the Realm. At present, the original is kept at the National Library of Thailand, Bangkok.


The Treaty's largest effect (after liberalizing foreign trade) was the legalization of opium exports into Siam, which had previously been banned by the Siamese Crown.

The Bowring Treaty in particular ensured that the Western powers would not intervene in Siam's internal affairs, and allowed for Siam to remain an independent nation (in contrast to its neighbors).

The treaty is now credited by historians with ensuring the economic rejuvenation of Bangkok, as it created a framework in which multilateral trade could operate freely in Southeast Asia, notably between China, Singapore and Siam.

Upon the arrival in 1855, Bowring experienced a reception in Siam that could not have stood in starker contrast to Peking's constant intransigence. He was welcomed like a foreign royalty, showered with pomp (including a 21-gun salute), and his determination to forge a trade accord was met with the open-minded and intelligent interest of King Rama IV.

Negotiations were buoyed by the cordiality between the King and Bowring and an agreement was reached on 17 April 1855. Bowring held King Rama IV in high regard and that the feeling was mutual and enduring being confirmed by his 1867 appointment as Siam's ambassador to the courts of Europe.




Sir John Bowring (17 October 1792 – 23 November 1872) was granted a noble title as ‘Praya + given name’ by the King. He published a lot of books. About his experience in Siam, he published “The Kingdom and People of Siam Vol. I and II (1857)” with a foreword by King Rama IV.

One favorite pastime that was popular among the boys of royal family was simply called "Playing a monk". The ‘how to play’ was for each one to dress with robe and took the role of a monk.

Then they appointed themselves as different status or ranks according to the reality in the house of monks such as ordinary monks, abbot and etc. A make-believe ritual incident was set up and went on like the real one. Royal staff was also included as locals acting for the different roles.

Researchers say that the favorite game had been very popular, at least, since the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV - mid 1800s) as found in a note made by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch who was a son of King Rama IV stating that:

"When I was young, I was always content to play a monk’s role. I loved to dress in monk robe. I loved to hold an alms bowls and give a chant. While other boys felt so much fun, I felt kind of obligation to do it”

This game had been found out to be at least all-time favorite all through the reign of King Rama V.

It is speculated that playing monk game was one of the tactics used for the young males in royal family to learn and understand the beginning of what was going on in Buddhism field such you had to be able to pray first before you took a role of a monk.

Note: This computer colored version was taken in the reign of King Rama V

(Computer colored photo)

A play being staged by King Rama V.

Location was set somewhere in Nakorn Sawan Province. In the photo, a noble set to be a high ranking noble was investigating a woman about some matters.

Those who sat kowtowing pretending to be low ranking officers were the King’s half-brother (close to the tree), one of the King’s sons and another high ranking noble. King Rama V was behind the camera.

Banque de l'Indochine (known in Siam as 'Bank of Indochine') was a French commercial bank and the 3rd that was established in Siam in 1896




The 1^st was British Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp. whose head quarter was in Hong Kong and the 2^nd was another British, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China.

The first Thai owned commercial bank is Siam Commercial Bank which was founded firstly as the "Book Club" on 4 October 1904 by Prince Jayanta Mongkol, a half-brother of King Rama V, who was convinced that the time was ripe for Siam to have its own banking system to help foster the country's economic development, rather than relying on foreign banks operating branches in the country.

The name "Book Club" (called in Thai tongue as ‘book-ka-lub’) was chosen in an effort to keep the project sub rosa as it was something of an experiment.




After the success of the "Book Club", King Rama V granted royal approval for it to officially operate as a commercial bank under the name "The Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)" on 30 January 1907.

SCB opened its headquarters in Bangkok’s Talad Noi District in 1910. In 1911, it was granted approval to display the royal Garuda symbol (related story on page 18/441) as a royal warrant by King Rama VI.


(Note: Locals in that time called this name as “Tanakarn (= bank) Sayam (= Siam) Kummachon (= local tongue calling ‘Commercial’)”

Below shows some photos of the very first bank notes attribute to Siam.

Bunsen burner is with an open flame.

These lamps are called in Europe Petromax, using kerosine in the pressure vessel. The flame is dispersed in a textile stocking that after the first flame will get rigid. Prone on an impact, therefore a storage of spare stockings is recommended. It provides a very strong light.

Same principle used for a stove, without the stocking, it provide a same flame like from a gas

The flame initiation needs a certain warm up first, by a liquid spiritus (alcohol) into the small through

Thank you, guys...

Can you please show me a photo of the exact copy of the ones shown in these 2 photos above (same pattern, I notice)? I cannot find one from Google.

Wanting to see the details clearly.

Thanks...

In November 1925, it was announced that King Wachirawut (Rama VI) fell ill. Princess Consort Suvadhana was at that time pregnant with his first ever child.

The King then announced his succession instructions: If Princess Suvadhana gave birth to a son, the throne would go to him. If not, the throne would pass to his surviving brother, Prachathipok, Prince of Sukhothai.

On the night of 25^th November, Princess Consort Suvadhana gave birth to a princess only two hours before the King's death (related article on page 13/318).

The King glimpsed his sole daughter for the first and only time before his demise on the 26^th November 1925.

The throne passed to his youngest brother, Prince Prajadhipok who sat on the throne as King Pok Klao or Rama VII.


(The King in the ‘king's koat (= royal urn)’ at Dusit Mahaprasat Throne Hall)


(At Sanam Luang, the King in the ‘king's koat’ was ushered circling anticlockwise around the royal pyre 3 times as according to one of the funeral’s cultures, Brahmanism)


(After lighting the fire to start the cremation of King Rama VI, King Rama VII with his Queen Consort descended down the stairs)

Note: These are computer colored photos


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccwuphWlor8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: &amp;amp">

(Shown between 1.14-2.45 is Chinese Buddhist monks performing Chinese funeral ritual. This ritual is called “kong teck”.

It is a ritual that is said to benefit the deceased. This ritual is to help the decease to prepare for his next phase of life. It is mainly the burning of paper replicas of items such as: beautiful (elaborate) paper home/palace, burnable cars, and etc. Those are built from bamboo strips and covered with colored paper and cuttings. There are also, (fake) valuable and important things such as jewelry, money and etc. to help the deceased start a new comfortable life that is waiting. Thus ‘kong teck’ is to bring auspiciousness to the deceased.

At 5.35 shows King Rama VII with his Queen Consort Rumpai Pannee

At 10.09 the King’s ashes in his royal urn was taken back to be kept inside the Grand Palace)

Originally Posted by nathanielnong

Thank you, guys...

Can you please show me a photo of the exact copy of the ones shown in these 2 photos above (same pattern, I notice)? I cannot find one from Google.

Wanting to see the details clearly.

Thanks...

So sorry for my unclear question!

I meant these two. I want to see how the bulb looks like.

Could you please find me a clearer photo?