{"id":518075,"date":"2023-09-20T11:28:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T04:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/?post_type=culture_heritage&#038;p=518075"},"modified":"2025-05-15T18:37:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T11:37:32","slug":"nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\/","title":{"rendered":"Nirat: The Thai Traveling Poetry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-518076 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/heading.png 1586w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Thai literature comprises of works in Roy Krong (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07) and Roy Kaew (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e41\u0e01\u0e49\u0e27) formats. Roy Krong refers to poetic works consisting of rhymes and patterned verses. Roy Kaew, on the other hand, are works of prose with no rhyming scheme and meters. Throughout Thai history, Roy Krong works have been important mediums of artistic expression, education, history recording, and entertainment. As such, there are many styles of Thai poetry created to serve various functions. One such poetic style focusses on one particular, yet profound, human experience: traveling. Works from this style explore mankind\u2019s inner contemplations as they embark on journeys to places far away from home. This is the story of Nirat \u2013 the Thai Traveling Poetry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>What is Nirat?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat (\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28) is a genre of literature written in verse form designated as a distinct type of poetry composed during a journey. The genre is characterized by its expression of longing and sadness from being separated from loved ones, which can be either a real separation, a fictional one, or an imaginative one. There are also examples of non-poetic Nirat that were written in prose; however, these works still keep to the themes of traveling and longing for loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">A Nirat poem can be divided into three sections: the introduction, the journey, and the conclusion. In the introduction, the poet praises the glory of their place of origin. In the journey part, which is the most important, the poet gives details on the excursion, usually by listing the names of the places in the itinerary of the journey while associating those places with the poet\u2019s emotional expressions of melancholy from love separation and nostalgic recollection of his beloved. In the conclusion, the poet might refer to literary characters who also suffer from love separation or leave a message that the poetry is intended to be sent to his loved one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>History<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">The first poem recognized as Nirat was<em> Khlong Nirat Haripunchai (<\/em><em>\u0e42\u0e04\u0e25\u0e07\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e2b\u0e23\u0e34\u0e20\u0e38\u0e0d\u0e0a\u0e31\u0e22<\/em><em>)<\/em> composed by an unknown author during the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ayutthaya_Kingdom\">Ayutthaya<\/a> period (1350 to 1767). Most Nirat from this period were composed in form of classical Thai poetry called <a href=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/culture_heritage\/thai-poetry-work-of-art-on-paper\/#:~:text=silpa%2Dmag)-,Khlong%20(%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87),-Khlong%20is%20defined\">Khlong<\/a> (\u0e42\u0e04\u0e25\u0e07), which was the most popular composing style of the era. Other best-known Nirat works from the Ayutthaya period include <em>Khlong Kamsuan Sriprat <\/em><em>(\u0e42<\/em><em>\u0e04\u0e25\u0e07\u0e01\u0e33\u0e28\u0e23\u0e27\u0e25\u0e28\u0e23\u0e35\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e32\u0e0a\u0e0d\u0e4c)<\/em>, and <em>Khlong Thawathotsamat<\/em><em> (<\/em><em>\u0e42\u0e04\u0e25\u0e07\u0e17\u0e27\u0e32\u0e17\u0e28\u0e21\u0e32\u0e2a)<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">The Nirat genre survived the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767 and continued to flourish during the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thonburi_Kingdom\">Thonburi<\/a> period (1767 to 1782) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rattanakosin_Kingdom_(1782%E2%80%931932)\">Rattanakosin<\/a> period (1782 to present). During the Thonburi period, only one Nirat was written &#8211; <em>Nirat Guangdong (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e01\u0e27\u0e32\u0e07\u0e15\u0e38\u0e49\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em> also known as <em>Nirat Phrayamahanuphab Pai Mueang Chin (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e22\u0e32\u0e21\u0e2b\u0e32\u0e19\u0e38\u0e20\u0e32\u0e1e\u0e44\u0e1b\u0e40\u0e21\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e08\u0e35\u0e19<\/em><em>)<\/em>. The piece details the experiences of a diplomatic mission sent by King Taksin\u2019s court to the Qianlong Emperor of Qing China.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat reached its height during the Rattanakosin period, when famed poet <a href=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/culture_heritage\/sunthorn-phu-thailands-beloved-poet\/\">Sunthorn Phu<\/a> invented his own style of Nirat composition. A few Nirat were written before Sunthorn Phu composed his first Nirat, <em>Nirat Muang Klang (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e40\u0e21\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e41\u0e01\u0e25\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em>. Yet, most pre-Sunthorn Phu Nirat tended to follow the Nirat\u2019s tradition of the Ayutthaya period. Sunthorn Phu\u2019s Nirat works distinguish themselves from their predecessors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-518074\" src=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Sunthorn-phu-Anoyama.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Sunthorn-phu-Anoyama.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Sunthorn-phu-Anoyama-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Sunthorn-phu-Anoyama-768x566.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Sunthorn Phu (cr. Anoyama)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Albeit following the three-section organization, Sunthorn Phu preferred composing his Nirat with <a href=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/culture_heritage\/thai-poetry-work-of-art-on-paper\/#:~:text=the%20Thai%20poetry.-,Klon,-(%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99)\">Klon<\/a> (\u0e01\u0e25\u0e2d\u0e19) verse instead of Khlong. This longer form of Thai verse requires different \u201cpuns\u201d and rhyming techniques. In his recollection, he also incorporated a significant amount of his personal life experience. His expression of sadness is not limited to that of love separation; melancholy could also be part of his reflections on the scenery. The women in Sunthorn Phu\u2019s Nirat also appeared more realistic than those in the more traditional ones. While Nirat in the Ayutthaya period usually admired the women for their idealized beauty, Sunthorn Phu once described one of his wives as \u201cpossessive\u201d and mentioned that her jealousy was a problem in their marriage. This representation was interesting because the poet is openly discussing family problems through his own perspective, instead of using an objectified representation of feminine beauty or a romanticized depiction of his love life to drive his narrative. The popularity of Sunthorn Phu&#8217;s Nirat can be attributed to these characteristics. The poet\u2019s most well-known Nirat composition, <em>Nirat Phukaho Thong <\/em><em>(\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em>, is considered to be the best Nirat work of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Sunthorn Phu\u2019s style set the new Nirat tradition for many poets in the Rattanakosin period to follow, including contemporary local Nirat literatures, namely <em>Nirat Ubon Rachathani (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e2d\u0e38\u0e1a\u0e25\u0e23\u0e32\u0e0a\u0e18\u0e32\u0e19\u0e35<\/em><em>)<\/em><em>, Nirat Krung Thep Maha Nakorn <\/em><em>(<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e01\u0e23\u0e38\u0e07\u0e40\u0e17\u0e1e\u0e21\u0e2b\u0e32\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23<\/em><em>)<\/em><em>, Nirat Chiang Rai <\/em><em>(<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e40\u0e0a\u0e35\u0e22\u0e07\u0e23\u0e32\u0e22<\/em><em>)<\/em><em>, <\/em>\u0e41\u0e25\u0e30 <em>Nirat Surat Thani <\/em><em>(<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e23\u0e32\u0e29\u0e0f\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e18\u0e32\u0e19\u0e35<\/em><em>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat\u2019s distinctive theme and narratives allow the genre of literature to survive the test of time and develop its own style throughout history. Nowadays, Nirat remains part of Thai contemporary literature due to its characteristics, with the \u201cexpressions of melancholy love-separation\u201d at its core, allowing readers from all walks of life to connect themselves to narratives and the expression of emotions in Nirat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Understanding the Beauty of Nirat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">As a Nirat piece is often composed while the poet is traveling, it can be regarded as a \u201ctravel diary\u201d filled with artistic expression of emotions, reflections on past experiences, and observations on the surroundings. For example, <em>Khlong Kamsuan Sri Prat (<\/em><em>\u0e42\u0e04\u0e25\u0e07\u0e01\u0e33\u0e2a\u0e23\u0e27\u0e25\u0e28\u0e23\u0e35\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e32\u0e0a\u0e0d\u0e4c<\/em><em>) <\/em>starts with the poet praising the beauty and glory of Ayutthaya, describing the grandeur of the Royal Palace, its garden, and the decorative and tasteful architectural designs of the temples, then expressing his worry and concern about leaving his loved one behind as he embarks on a journey into exile. Then <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Si_Prat\">Sri Prat<\/a>, the poet, lamented his separation from his beloved as he passed different locations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cAs I arrived at Ko Rian, I asked the island to deliver the message to you,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">At Ko Khom, I cried for the Khom people to see for themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Even though most Nirat focus on expressing the sense of longing, poets also wrestle with other emotions that emerge from their retrospection. In <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em>, composed by Sunthorn Phu, the poet reflected on his declining social status and expresses his sadness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cAt Krung Kao my heart became more saddened.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">We passed along by the landing of the Governor\u2019s residence,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">My tears streamed down when I thought of the old days,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">I would stop to see him if things were like before.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">He would receive me in his house.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">But now I am poor and if he would act strangely,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">What would I do if he laughed at me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">While reading Nirat, the readers would learn about the poet\u2019s life as much as the poet\u2019s introspection into his emotions. Whether it is love, melancholy, or peace of mind, they are part of human nature that every reader can relate to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat is also known for its mastery of language, including rhyming techniques, elegant and witful word choices, and its descriptive language. Limited by specific prosodic rules for Thai poetry known as Chanthalak (\u0e09\u0e31\u0e19\u0e17\u0e25\u0e31\u0e01\u0e29\u0e13\u0e4c), the authors of Nirat need to employ several techniques and knowledge of the homonyms, synonyms, and words that are homophonous in order to effectively convey their feelings to the readers without violating the rhyme schemes. One of the most common techniques is a specialized technique of \u201cpun\u201d that the poets use to amplify the emotional effects of separation by associating the names of the locale with words that express melancholy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">In<em> Klong Kamsuan Sriprat<\/em>, the poet uses the technique of a \u201cdirect pun\u201d by associating the name of a locale \u201cBang Chak (\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e07\u0e08\u0e32\u0e01)&#8221; meaning \u201cThe Village of Nipa Palm\u201d (\u201c<em>chak<\/em>\u201d being the name for the Nipa Palm) with another similar word \u201c<em>chak<\/em> (\u0e08\u0e32\u0e01)\u201d meaning \u201cseparation\u201d or \u201cto be separated from\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cI suffered in anguish and pain,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Until I reached this village of Nipa Palm.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Separated we are, beloved, far far apart,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Sobbing and moaning, I called out in vain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Some \u201cdirect pun\u201d techniques are conventional and can be found across many Nirat pieces from different eras. \u201c<em>Chak<\/em>\u201d (Nipa Palm, separation or to be separated from) is one of them, which can be found in works such as <em>Klong Kamsuan Sriprat, Nirat Narin <\/em>by Nai Narin Thibeth<em> (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e19\u0e23\u0e34\u0e19\u0e17\u0e23\u0e4c<\/em><em>)<\/em>, and many of Suthon Phu\u2019s works, including <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong, <\/em>\u0e41\u0e25\u0e30<em> Nirat Prabath (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e17<\/em><em>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat can also be informative, as it usually contains detailed descriptions of nature. The poet might overcome loneliness in his\/her journey by describing the scenery, such as flowers and behaviors of animals in the area. While the poet gives realistic descriptions of nature, he\/she also associates those details with his loved one. In <em>Kap Hae Ruea of <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thammathibet\"><em>Prince <\/em><em>T<\/em><em>hammathibet<\/em><\/a><em> (<\/em><em>\u0e01\u0e32\u0e1e\u0e22\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e2b\u0e48\u0e40\u0e23\u0e37\u0e2d\u0e40\u0e08\u0e49\u0e32\u0e1f\u0e49\u0e32\u0e18\u0e23\u0e23\u0e21\u0e32\u0e18\u0e34\u0e40\u0e1a\u0e28\u0e23<\/em><em>)<\/em> of the Ayutthaya period (1350 to 1767), classified as Nirat genre, the prince described the beauty of the flowers he saw during his journey, associating their traits with the beauty of his beloved wife.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cThickly blooming champa flowers unfold<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Their gentle petals in yellow luxuriance<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">I recall the gold of your complexion<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Excelling the magnificence of the golden champa\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Besides the harmonious co-existence of the poet\u2019s personal reflection and description of the surroundings, this genre of Thai literature also serves as a mirror reflecting the social values and Thai people\u2019s beliefs at that time. Many Nirat pieces were written during a journey to a place of worship, such as <em>Khlong Nirat Haripunchai, Nirat Phukhao Thong, Nirat Wat Chao Fa<br \/>\n(<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e27\u0e31\u0e14\u0e40\u0e08\u0e49\u0e32\u0e1f\u0e49\u0e32<\/em><em>), Nirat Phra Prathom (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1b\u0e23\u0e30\u0e18\u0e21<\/em><em>), and Nirat Phrabath (<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e17<\/em><em>)<\/em>. These stories of pilgrimage show that Buddhism as a religion played an important role in the spiritual lives of Thai people in the past. In <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em>, Suthorn Phu paid homage to the relic shrine, where he also prayed for a successful, healthy, and happy life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Mentions of Buddhist concepts such as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Karma_in_Buddhism\">karma<\/a>\u201d can also be found in the personal reflection part of Nirat. In <em>Nirat Phra Prathom<\/em>, when Sunthorn Phu visited the place his former wife, Nim, used to live, he lamented the nine years of their separation, saying that it was karma that all the living beings must part. Similarly, in <em>Klon Pleng Yao Rueang Rop Phama Thi Tha Din Daeng (<\/em><em>\u0e01\u0e25\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e40\u0e1e\u0e25\u0e07\u0e22\u0e32\u0e27\u0e40\u0e23\u0e37\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e23\u0e1a\u0e1e\u0e21\u0e48\u0e32\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e17\u0e48\u0e32\u0e14\u0e34\u0e19\u0e41\u0e14\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em>, composed by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama_I\">King Rama I<\/a>, the beginning of the poetry talks about karma as the reason for the King\u2019s separation from his loved one and the city of happiness. Therefore, Nirat shows that Buddhist concepts have always been a part of Thai people\u2019s ways of thinking<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong><em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em><\/strong><strong>: The Best of All Nirat Works<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Suthorn Phu\u2019s most famous work, recognized as the best Nirat, is <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong <\/em><em>(<\/em><em>\u0e19\u0e34\u0e23\u0e32\u0e28\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07<\/em><em>)<\/em>, written in 1830 during the reign of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nangklao\">King Rama III<\/a> when Suthorn Phu was a monk. As a monk, he traveled to Phukhao Thong Pagoda in Ayutthaya to pay reverence to the Buddha&#8217;s relics. The itinerary included many places such as his monastery, Wat Ratchaburana, The Temple of Dawn, the Grand Palace, Bang Thorani, Bang Chak, Samkhok, and Pak Kret. These places evoked Suthorn Phu\u2019s sadness, either about the death of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama_II\">King Rama II<\/a>, whom he was close to, or about his life after losing favor of the court. This expression of melancholy is rich with emotions and literary beauty. At Bang Thorani, he lamented that:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">&#8220;I have no land to live in,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Only thorns piercing my heart,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">how disconcerting to me,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Like a lonely bird without a nest.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">At Samkhok, he wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cWhen I arrived at Samkhok I sadly remembered<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Rama the second, who cared for his region,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Who appointed Samkhok a third-class city<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">And named it Lotus City for its lotus blooms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Oh, Lord, you are gone, never to return,<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">But the name you gave Samkhok ensures its fame.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">But I whom you name Sunthon<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Am not safe from harm as is that fair town.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">The end of your reign brought an end to my name<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">And I must roam about to find a home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Although Sunthorn Phu was quite pessimistic at that time and his self-reflection was filled with discontent and dissatisfaction about life, despite his monkhood, he was able to maintain Nirat\u2019s main characteristic of expressing the feeling of love-longing. For example. At a brewery, he compared the drunkenness of liquor to the drunkenness of love. The former might disappear afterwards, while the latter could stay forever. However, Sunthorn Phu\u2019s expression of love-longing in <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em> could not be personal because a Buddhist monk is supposed to refrain from thinking or talking about women or love. Therefore, Sunthorn Phu referred to women with the term \u201c<em>sika <\/em>(\u0e2a\u0e35\u0e01\u0e32),\u201d an appropriate term for monks to address women.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-518073\" src=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17.jpeg 1773w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/\u0e20\u0e39\u0e40\u0e02\u0e32\u0e17\u0e2d\u0e07-\u0e17\u0e17\u0e17-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Phukhao Thong (Golden Mount) in Ayutthaya Province<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">(cr. Tourism Authority of Thailand)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Apart from the expression of emotions, <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em> also included cultural aspects, social values, and concepts from Buddhist teachings. When Sunthorn Phu traveled past Pak Kret, he described a scene from the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mon_people\">Mon<\/a> people\u2019s village where he saw Mon women who tried to dress like the Thais. His description portrayed Thailand in the 1800s as a multicultural society. At Ban Dua, he commented on the fig fruit, which looked delicious from the outside but was full of insects inside. Likewise, cruel human beings might appear to be sweet on the surface, but bitter inside. In this part, Sunthorn Phu mastered the \u201cpun\u201d technique by playing with the word \u201cDua\u201d in \u201cBan Dua\u201d locale and \u201c<em>ma dua<\/em>,\u201d Thai name of the fig fruit, and comparing the fruit with human nature. At Ban Ngio, Sunthorn Phu referred to the Ngio tree in Buddhist belief, where people who commit the sin of adultery will be punished by climbing the terrifying trees with 16-inch-long thorns in hell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Eventually, when Sunthorn Phu arrived at the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chedi_Phukhao_Thong\">Phukhao Thong Pagoda<\/a>, looking at the ruins of the once-grand shrine, he reflected on the Buddhist concept of impermanence. The readers of <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em> can learn a great deal about Thailand in the 1800s in terms of its landscape, the lifestyles of the people, and their beliefs. Moreover, one might even find Sunthorn Phu\u2019s wisdom about uncertainty in life applicable to their experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Although some parts of Nirat, including the puns and the cultural context, might be difficult to understand for non-Thai speakers, the sense of longing, suffering from love-separation, reflections on the nature of life, and the idea of soul-searching by traveling are timeless and universal. Regardless of their understanding of Thai language and culture, Nirat readers can embark on the same journey as the poet through the vivid description of the scenery and reflect on their own experiences through the lens of the poet. The Buddhist concepts and Thai ways of thinking could open the readers to new perspectives, similar to the experience of traveling to a new place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Moreover, Nirat readers can learn more about Thai history from the poet\u2019s itinerary. In the case of <em>Nirat Phukhao Thong<\/em>, the readers can immerse themselves in the poet\u2019s boat trip story. The boat traveling route from Bangkok to Ayutthaya as described in Nirat Phukhao Thong is different from today\u2019s land route, allowing readers to learn about the lifestyles of the people living by the river and those of other ethnic groups living in Thailand at that time. Therefore, some Nirat that are not fictional or imaginative can be regarded as historical accounts as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\">Nirat as a genre of Thai literature weaves together Thai literary beauty, the richness of history and culture, the unique perspectives of Thai ways of thinking, the embodiment of social values and beliefs, the essence of spirituality, and the personal identity of the poet. Its profound expression of emotions and reflections on the nature of life make this genre of literature remarkably humanistic, thus endowing it with a timeless quality that transcends boundaries and resonates with readers from diverse backgrounds. Its enduring presence throughout history stands as a testament to the invaluable significance of Nirat, not only for the Thai people but also for literature enthusiasts worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>The story of \u201cNirat\u201d is a charming part of Thai culture and heritage. This literary genre showcases the beauty of the Thai language and the insights of Thai writers. Furthermore, its themes of longing, reflection, and being away from our comfort zone are experiences that many around the world can relate to. Join us in exploring more stories of Thailand and the Thai people, as we take you on a journey to discover Thainess.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/1972\/03\/JSS_060_2g_ManasChitkasem_EmergenceAndDevelopmentOfNiratGenre.pdf\">https:\/\/thesiamsociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/1972\/03\/JSS_060_2g_ManasChitkasem_EmergenceAndDevelopmentOfNiratGenre.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eprints.soas.ac.uk\/28805\/1\/10672973.pdf\">https:\/\/eprints.soas.ac.uk\/28805\/1\/10672973.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/th.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8\">https:\/\/th.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/so06.tci-thaijo.org\/index.php\/wiwitwannasan\/article\/view\/240410\/164393\">https:\/\/sotci-thaijo.org\/index.php\/wiwitwannasan\/article\/view\/240410\/164393<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/Thai-literature#ref846963:~:text=Classical%20literature%2C\">https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/Thai-literature#ref846963:~:text=Classical%20literature%2C<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/so06.tci-thaijo.org\/index.php\/VANNAVIDAS\/article\/download\/62312\/51293\/144733\">https:\/\/so06.tci-thaijo.org\/index.php\/VANNAVIDAS\/article\/download\/62312\/51293\/144733<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thairath.co.th\/lifestyle\/life\/2699992\">https:\/\/www.thairath.co.th\/lifestyle\/life\/2699992<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/15-2.pdf\">http:\/\/www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/15-2.pdf<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sure.su.ac.th\/xmlui\/bitstream\/id\/c7999693-87a7-454c-8e72-4ddd04d7e78d\/DR_Nisakorn_Butrngamdee.pdf?attempt=2\">http:\/\/www.sure.su.ac.th\/xmlui\/bitstream\/id\/c7999693-87a7-454c-8e72-4ddd04d7e78d\/DR_Nisakorn_Butrngamdee.pdf?attempt=2<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>Author: Nutcha Suwanmalee<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>Editor: Tayud Mongkolrat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>19 September 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; Thai literature comprises of works in Roy Krong (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07) and Roy Kaew (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e41\u0e01\u0e49\u0e27) formats. Roy Krong refers to poetic works consisting of rhymes and patterned verses. Roy Kaew, on the other hand, are works of prose with no rhyming scheme and meters. Throughout Thai history, Roy Krong works have been important mediums of artistic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":518077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140,22,8],"tags":[278],"class_list":["post-518075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article-literature-folklore","category-culture-and-heritage","category-literature-folklore","tag-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Nirat: The Thai Traveling Poetry - Thailand Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"th_TH\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nirat: The Thai Traveling Poetry - Thailand Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; Thai literature comprises of works in Roy Krong (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e07) and Roy Kaew (\u0e23\u0e49\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e41\u0e01\u0e49\u0e27) formats. Roy Krong refers to poetic works consisting of rhymes and patterned verses. Roy Kaew, on the other hand, are works of prose with no rhyming scheme and meters. Throughout Thai history, Roy Krong works have been important mediums of artistic [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/th\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Thailand Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thailandfoundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-20T04:28:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-15T11:37:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thailandfoundation.or.th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cover-no-word-1024x576.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"576\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tayud Mongkolrat\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@foundationthai\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@foundationthai\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tayud Mongkolrat\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 \u0e19\u0e32\u0e17\u0e35\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tayud Mongkolrat\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7ffa637683194de67966e1691d045414\"},\"headline\":\"Nirat: The Thai Traveling Poetry\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-20T04:28:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-15T11:37:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2824,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/nirat-the-thai-traveling-poetry\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/thailandfoundation.or.th\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/cover-no-word.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Articles\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Article\",\"Culture &amp; 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