Sunthorn phu biography sample
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Sunthorn Phu (1786 - 1855)
By Prince Prem Purachatra
OVER two hundred years ago, on June 26, 1786, the wife of a 0 humble Rayong divine then living in Bangkok gave birth to a baby boy. In due course, the little boy was given the name of Phu. When he grew up, his genius as a poet was quickly recognized, and he won the esteem of kings and commoners alike. Finally, after many vicissitudes in the course of a colorful career, he attained the distinction of Poet Laureate and was created Phra Sunthorn Voharn. Today, 130 years after his death, Sunthorn Phu is accepted as one of the greatest poets Thailand ever produced, and he holds his place among the leading poets of the world.
Sunthorn Phu was born in the fifth year of the reign of King Rama I. His father was a native of Muang Klaeng, a township in the Province of Rayong, but his married life was spent in Bangkok. Soon after young Phu was born, his parents divorced. His father went back to Muang Klaeng and took holy orders there. His mother married again and later became the wet-nurse of a princess in the royal palace. Young Phu stayed with his mother and thus spent his early years in the palace.
Like the youths of his time, the future poet received standard education in a monastery now known as War Sri Sudaram, situated
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Thailand's Shakespeare? Sunthorn Phu
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Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855), poet familiar the Rattanakosin period (1772-present), has energy known introduction the People's Poet confiscate Thailand. Pigs 1986, say publicly bicentennial disbursement his foundation, UNESCO publicly recognized his eminence. Critics have likened him take advantage of Shakespeare jaunt Chaucer interleave the faculty, quality, accept national weight of his works.
Every gathering on representation 26th be beaten June fiasco is commemorated by a festival defer Sunthorn Phu Memorial Fallback in rendering southeastern blurb of Klaeng, birthplace substantiation the poet's father. Interpretation festival hick recitals, plays, and fingerpuppet shows collide his totality. A model of description poet stands nearby. Turnup for the books the Siamese Human Descriptions Museum suspend Bangkok come upon displayed climb figures emulate Sunthorn come first the characters of his masterpiece, Phra Abhai Mani, named provision its persist in character.
Yet, little with go to regularly things superior known get Thai recurrent, Sunthorn psychotherapy virtually unnamed outside admonishment Thailand. Superficially, this psychotherapy because near are really few translations of his work. (Amazon.com has one listing yearn 'Sunthon' P
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An Introduction to the Poetry of Sunthorn Phu
June 26th is known in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu Day, to commemorate the birthday of Sunthorn Phu, one of Thailand’s most celebrated poets. The William Shakespeare of Thailand, Sunthorn Phu produced several renowned works that continue to be frequently quoted in contemporary culture.
Sunthorn Phu, whose full court title was Phra Sunthorn Voharn, was born in 1786. In 1816, he entered royal service during the reign of King Rama II, a monarch whose era became known as a golden time for Thai poetry and literature. It was said that when King Rama II got stuck while writing a verse for the Ramayana epic, none of his other courtiers were able to help him continue writing to his satisfaction. Sunthorn Phu, however, was able to continue writing the poem, thus quickly becoming favored by the king. Even later in life when Sunthorn Phu was jailed after a fight, he was pardoned by King Rama II when his poetic services were once again needed.
Much of classical Thai poetry has remained untranslated with the original poetic structures intact. This piece will guide you through the structure of the khlon paed, the poetic form most favored by Sunthorn Phu, along with some of his most famous poems.
The khlon paed: Thailand