Sri Thanonchai

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Sri Thanonchai ( Thai : ศรี ธ นนท์ ชัย ) is a character from Thai folk literature who acts similar to the German Till Eulenspiegel and is still popular today. Most of the episodes of Sri Thanonchai are set in the central region , which is where the character probably originated.

The figure of Sri Thanonchai

According to the stories, Sri Thanonchai was born to a family of farmers in the area of Ayutthaya after the future mother turned to the god Indra in prayer after a long period of childlessness . A short time later, the mother gave birth to another son, to whom Sri Thanonchai was very jealous. Sri Thanonchai proves to be smart and shrewd, but also ready to take drastic pranks. He is appointed to the king's court, where his antics often annoy courtiers, but he can always save his skin. Finally he returns to his parents' house.

Only a few versions of his life story explain the death of Sri Thanonchai: after a losing bet with a court official, his heart breaks and he perishes.

Publication history

The oldest printed version of the stories about Sri Thanonchai was published around 1890, around 50 years after the establishment of the Thai printing press.

The stories of Sri Thanonchai are not only widespread throughout Thailand, but are also known in Laos (called Chieng Mieng (Xieng Mieng) there), Cambodia ( Thanon-Chai ) and Vietnam .

The Laotian stories largely follow the Thai versions, with one exception: Chieng Mieng was in the service of the Laotian king when an attack by the Siamese became apparent. The king consulted the shrewd man who recommended that all holes and pits in the city of Vientiane be tightly closed so that the Siamese could not enter. In this way, however, the mythical snake Naga was blocked from all ways to come to the aid of the Laotians, as is customary. Vientiane fell to Siam. There is a French translation of the Lao stories.

The Cambodian stories about Thanon-Chai ( Thmenh Chey ) differ considerably from the Thai ones . There is also a French translation of these.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ "Sri Thanonchai, a Thai Till Eulenspiegel". Otrakul (1995), pp. 31-38.
  2. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from March 2, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (last accessed on February 24, 2012) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.xiengmieng.com
  3. ↑ VONGHAK Boun Thanh: "Les contes de Xieng Mieng" BARL , n ° 7, 1972, pp. 1-51.
  4. ↑ Pierre Bitard: La merveilleuse histoire de l'Thmenh Chey astucieux: conte populaire cambodgien. Saigon: France-Asie (1956).

literature

  • Ampha Otrakul: Thai-German encounter. Essays and lectures on language, literature and culture . Edited by the German department of Chulalongkorn University ud patronage of your Kgl. Hey Crown Princess Maha Chakro Sirindhorn, Bangkok [1995]. ISBN 9748364526 .