The Journal of the Siam Society

A Misidentified Image of Bhr̥kuṭī in the National Museum Bangkok

Sofia Sundström — 2024-06-20

This study delves into the misidentification of a seated female figure in meditation, displayed at the National Museum Bangkok, now identified as Bhr̥kuṭī. The statuette, dating back to approximately 750–850 CE, showcases unique attributes, such as a distinctive stūpa on the deity’s hair topknot. Analyzing its iconography, the notice traces the evolution of Bhr̥kuṭī’s representation from South to Southeast Asia, highlighting her diverse forms and roles in Buddhist art history. The study challenges established norms, proposing a potential import hypothesis, and emphasizes the intricate interplay of regional influences, artistic diversity, and the evolving roles of Buddhist female deities.

A Sino‒Thai Blue-and-White Porcelain at UMMA

Yu-Yu Cheng — 2024-06-20

A blue-and-white porcelain lidded bottle housed at the University of Michigan Museum of Art stands as a significant representative from a collection of late 19th-century tea sets crafted in China for the Siamese court. This brief examination delves into crucial visual cues, such as the bottle’s distinct ringed-neck shape, incorporation of typical Chinese auspicious motifs, depictions of Siamese coinage and royal monograms from the Rama V period in its decorative patterns, and the presence of a Chinese-language hallmark on its base. These visual elements and inscriptions collectively unveil insights into the bottle’s purpose, origins, and its broader significance within the realm of Sino–Thai ceramics.

A Malay Queen’s Siamese Silver Bowl at the V&A

Naomi Wang — 2024-06-20

This notice examines a nielloware silver bowl at the V&A Museum, originally from southern Thailand. Using Jawi inscriptions, the notice unravels the bowl’s significance as a royal Malay heirloom. The bowl’s intricate scenes depict Hindu–Buddhist mythical creatures and celestial beings. The royal seal found on the base is attributed to Queen Tengku Ambung Fatimah (r. 1883‒?). Another Jawi inscription traces a lineage, identifying two other royal women, Engku Besar and Engku Lebar as previous owners. The bowl was eventually dispersed from the Riau–Lingga court, likely after the sultanate was dissolved in 1911, before reaching Singapore and London. This artifact serves as a symbol of lineage, power, and transnational movement in a 19th-century maritime court.

Burma to Myanmar

Alexandra Green — 2024-06-20

The Metaverse for Mali Bucha

Gomesh Karnchanapayap — 2024-06-20

The “Kammatthan Buddhist Tradition” of Mainland Southeast Asia

Gregory Kourilsky — 2024-06-20

This review article explores the distinctive Tai–Khmer Buddhist tradition of meditation, so-called kammaṭṭhān(a) or yogāvacar(a) tradition in recent literature, initially identified by T.W. Rhys Davids in the late 19th century. French scholars like F. Bizot and British scholar K. Crosby have continued to study this tradition, revealing its unique practices and vernacular literature in mainland Southeast Asia. Crosby’s recent work, Esoteric Theravada: The Story of the Forgotten Meditation Tradition of Southeast Asia (2020), is critically examined in this study. The analysis assesses her new findings, discusses her sources, and offers reflections to enhance understanding within contemporary Buddhist studies.

Oskar Frankfurter

Volker Grabowsky — 2024-06-20

This article reexamines the life of Dr Oskar Frankfurter (1852–1922), co-founder and president of the Siam Society from 1906 to 1917. Despite his impactful contributions to Thai studies and culture during his tenure as chief librarian of the Vajirañāṇa National Library, his life remains shrouded in obscurity. Drawing from recently discovered archival sources in Thailand, Germany, and the UK, the article explores Frankfurter’s early years in Hamburg, his influential career in Siam from 1884 to 1918, and his role in establishing Thai Studies in Germany. The narrative is structured to cover key life phases, offering a glimpse into the fascinating legacy of this forgotten luminary.

The Great Disciple Mahākassapa and his Parinibbāna

Javier Schnake — 2024-06-20

The 80 great disciples (asīti mahāsāvakas) are a conceptual category found in Pali commentarial literature dating from the 5th to the 10th century. Various forms of evidence, including archeology, epigraphy, and iconography, demonstrate the enduring popularity of these characters within mainland Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions. This popularity spans from the end of the 1st millennium to the present. The focus of this work lies in the Pali texts, which have been largely overlooked in comparison to the well-preserved accounts in vernacular languages. The study partially aims to address this gap by presenting a critical edition and new translation of a Pali text centered around the parinibbāna (final demise) of one of the most esteemed disciples, Mahākassapa.

Charles Higham, Digging Deep: A Journey into Southeast Asia’s Past

Mitch Hendrikson — 2024-06-20

Bérénice Bellina et al., eds, Sea Nomads of Southeast Asia: From the Past to the Present

Clifford Sather — 2024-06-20

Françoise Fauconnet-Buzelin, Un évêque au pays des talapoins : Louis Laneau, 1637‒1696

Alain Forest — 2024-06-20

Christof Renauer, Pierre Dieulefils: Cambodia in Postcards

Joachim K. Bautze — 2024-06-20

Sok Udom Deth, A History of Cambodia–Thailand Diplomatic Relations: 1950‒2020

Tej Bunnag — 2024-06-20

Yves Goudineau & Vanina Bouté, eds, From Tribalism to Nationalism: The Anthropological Turn in Laos—A Tribute to Grant Evans

Paul T. Cohen — 2024-06-20

Michael K. Connors & Ukrist Pathmanand, eds, Thai Politics in Translation: Monarchy, Democracy and the Supra Constitution

Jean Baffie — 2024-06-20

Giuseppe Bolotta, Belittled Citizens: The Cultural Politics of Childhood on Bangkok’s Margins

Thanida Boonwanno — 2024-06-20

Pamela N. Corey, The City in Time: Contemporary Art and Urban Form in Vietnam and Cambodia

John Clark — 2024-06-20

Philip Constable, The Cycle of Life in the Paintings of Thai Artist Pichai Nirand

Vipash Purichanont — 2024-06-20

Editorial & Contents

Nicolas Revire — 2024-06-20

A Newly Unearthed Travelogue

Maëlle Pennéguès — 2024-06-20

This notice introduces a newly discovered travelogue by Jean Basset, detailing his 1685 journey to Siam as part of the French embassy led by Chevalier de Chaumont. Preserved in Lyon, the manuscript offers fresh insights into the young missionary’s experiences, complementing existing accounts of 17th-century diplomatic relations. Basset’s narrative, marked by factual detail and occasional personal reflections, sheds light on the challenges of maritime travel and diplomatic encounters. Furthermore, his portrayal of Siamese culture, particularly Buddhism, invites nuanced exploration. This rediscovery not only enriches our understanding of historical maritime voyages but also offers a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the experiences of a young missionary navigating foreign cultures.

In Memoriam

Kim Matics — 2024-06-20

D’une version à une autre du Lilit Phra Lo

Émilie Testard — 2024-06-20

This literature notice reviews two recent English translations of the poem Lilit Phra Lo, offering non-Thai readers access to this significant piece of Siamese literature. Through an examination of the translations by Robert Bickner and Chris Baker & Pasuk Phongpaichit, the comparative analysis investigates their interpretations of the plot, vocabulary, and style. While both translations effectively convey the narrative, their distinct creative choices and approaches towards the text and its audience reveal intriguing strategies and perspectives.

The “Consulting Detective” Nithan Thong-in by King Vajiravudh

Tony Waters — 2024-06-20

This short study explores detective stories by Crown Prince Vajiravudh, later King Rama VI, in early 20th-century Siam. Compiled in Nithan Thong-in, these tales provide insights into Siamese society, culture, and history. Despite multiple reprints, an English translation is currently unavailable. This notice introduces the cultural richness of Mr Thong-in’s adventures, along with brief summaries of each story.

Vajradhātvīśvarī and Vairocana

Pia Conti — 2024-06-20

This article explores a collection of ten-armed, five-headedfigures featured in 10th-century Khmer Buddhist miniature shrines. While traditionally identified as representations of Prajñāpāramitā, the female deity embodying “the Perfection of Wisdom”, this article puts forth a new interpretation, suggesting these images depict the Khmer iteration of two dual tantric Buddhist deities, Vairocana and Vajradhātvīśvarī, linked to the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṁgrahanāmamahāyānasūtra (STTS). The key insight for this hypothesis stems from an examination of a newly identified shrine located in the Battambang National Museum featuring mirrored male and female figures, prompting a reconsideration of their traditional identification. The link to the mentioned STTS text provides an explanatory framework for the unique iconographic features of these images.

In the Footsteps of Wolfgang Franke

Marcus Bingenheimer — 2024-06-20

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Chinese immigrants constituted up to 50% of the population in Bangkok. Beyond their religious role, Chinese temples served as community centers, fostering social connections, news exchange, and providing entertainment for newcomers in the Thai capital. With archival records scarce, the preserved epigraphy within these temples emerges as a crucial historical source. This article revisits Wolfgang Franke’s documented sites from the 1970s and 1980s, finding that the inscribed objects generally remain intact, and indicating stability in Bangkok’s Chinese temple culture over the last fifty years. Addressing the lack of a comprehensive listing of Chinese temples and their locations, the article presents a geo-referenced survey, significantly expanding previous lists. The survey data are available online as supplemental material, contributing to the documentation of Chinese religious sites in Southeast Asia. The article concludes by reflecting on the historical evolution of temple construction in Bangkok.

Fading Musical Memory

Terry E. Miller — 2024-06-20

As a consequence of numerous wars and forced migrations, the Phuan kingdom, which once flourished on the Plain of Jars in Laos, was obliterated during the 19th century. Much of the population was force-marched down to the Mekong Valley and into northeastern and central Thailand. One of the last contingents settled in central Thailand’s Lopburi province, in the district of Ban Mi. After nearly 150 years of exile there, only two living traditional singers of khap phuan, both around 90 years of age, could be found and were recorded in 2012 and 2013. Since our initial documentation of them and their khaen mouth organ accompanist, all have passed away, leaving no one to carry on the tradition. This article examines these musical fragments and compares them to the living music found in the old Phuan area. Due to the stark differences between Ban Mi singing and modern khap phuan, we aimed to identify what was preserved in Thailand and what this reveals about Phuan history and migration.