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Thailändische Literatur
Die thailändische Literatur wurde von den Königen vorangebracht, wlche oftmals selbst herausragenden Werke hervorgebracht haben.Die ersten thailändischen Werke stammen aus der Sukhothai Periode (13. bis Mitte 14.Jhd.) und bestehen hauptsächlich auf Inschriften, die lebende, which provide vivid accounts of contemporary life. The first literary work must be the Stone Inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng.
Die Literatur der Ayutthaya Periode deckt weite Themen ab, inklusive Religion und moralische Prinzipien , including religious teachings and moral principles that are tools for governing the state, descriptions of scenery, the beauty of women, and expressions of love. Many literary works borrowed plots from other countries such as India and Indonesia (Java). Monarchs, other members of the royal family, and aristocrats wrote most of the works in this period. Another important literary work in the Ayutthaya Period that functioned as a tool of the ruling class is Lilit Ongkan Chaeng Nam, by an anonymous poet. This lilit (mixed poetical composition) was chanted approximately every six months in an allegiance ceremony, on the occasion of a new king ascending to the throne, or when the king appointed new aristocrats. The ceremony consisted of giving a pledge of loyalty to the king and drinking sacred water from a vessel in which weapons were laid. The lilit chanted in this ceremony combined Buddhism with Hinduism.
In the early Rattanakosin Period there were many literary works that had a foreign influence. The Ramakian, the Thai version of the great Indian literary epic the Ramayana, was especially popular. It was composed in the form of a poem and was then turned into a drama. The recitation used the traditional mask play (khon) and had numerous episodes. Inao and Dalang used plots from Java. The Mon Chronicle was translated into Rachathirat. The Chinese historical tale of Sam Kok (The Three Kingdoms) was another example of these literary works. The literary works using plots from other countries indicate that the Thai royal court had numerous contacts and relationships with foreign countries and was trying hard to get to know the outside world.
After the reign of King Rama IV, Thai literature began to reflect the opening of more relations with the West. Nirat London (The Voyage to London) was composed by Mom Rachothai when he was appointed as an envoy to carry King Rama IV's letter to establish contact with Queen Victoria of England. King Rama V's Klai Ban was written in the form of a diary to record his trip to Europe in 1907.
From the end of King Rama V's reign to the reign of King Rama VII, Thai literature began to change from poetry to prose. Short stories and novels were written in a form that was influenced by the West. The first three Thai novels were Luk Phu Chai, by Sri Burapha, Sattru Khong Chao Lon, by Dok Mai Sod, and Lakhon Haeng Chiwit, by Prince Akat Damkoeng.
In 1942, after Thailand had changed its form of government from an absolute monarchy to a democratic system, the atmosphere of the liberation of thought made authors step out of the narrow limits of stories that presented only the life of the ruling class. Now there were stories of farmers and fishermen and even a story of a prostitute - Ying Khon Chua, by Ko Surangkhanang. At the same time, some authors wrote of love and romance in their novels as well.
After World War II, Thai politics went into a dark age when Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat had political power (1958-1963) and restricted press freedom. There were orders to forbid the publication of certain literary works and to close many newspapers. Authors of social criticism were arrested and imprisoned. Therefore, literary works during this period were written as a form of social escape; love between a prince and a commoner and novels about the first wife and the mistress were typical themes.
During the 1970s, however there was a genre of literature called “the literature of life." This emerged from a political situation that restricted freedom of thought. Society had a dictator as a leader, so literary works searched for a better society, criticized the happenings in society and revealed inequality and the barren life in the countryside. Such works took the form of novels, short stories, and poems.
In the last three or four decades, there have been many outstanding authors in the Thai literary world. The names include Yakhop, the author of Phu Chana Sip Thit, a story of love, war and the Burmese King; M.R. Kukrit Pramoj, a former Prime Minister, the author of classic works like Si Phaen Din, which portrays the life in the Thai court through one woman who lived from the reign of King Rama V to the reign of King Rama VIII; and female authors including Krisana Asoksin, Wimon Siriphaibun, and Khunying Winita Dithiyon, who write of love and romance as reflected in present-day family and society.