Memory, Power, and Gender in Siamese Cremation Volumes
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Abstract
This article examines gender dynamics within the tradition of cremation volumes in early 20th-century Siam, shaped in part by the editorial direction of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (1862–1943). It argues that these commemorative texts functioned as instruments of patriarchal control and elite self-representation. Through an analysis of sponsorship patterns and biographical narratives, the study highlights how women’s agency in shaping public memory emerged only conditionally, mediated through relationships with male kin and embedded within elite social networks. By situating cremation volumes as cultural artifacts, the article sheds light on the intersection of memory, power, and gender in elite Siamese society.
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References
Cremation Volumes
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