The Politics of Corpse: The Elimination of Horror and the Control of Dead Bodies during the “Civilizing Process” in Siam in 1880s
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Published:
Jun 24, 2019
Keywords:
Emotion Horror Dead Bodies Civilizing Process
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Abstract
This article examines the longstanding tradition of dead body disposal in Thai society. Findings reveal that in the past dead bodies were commonly found in public and the dead disposal was so dreadful that it caused horror to those who witnessed it. It was not until 1880s when the Siamese elite began “the civilizing process” that the horrific practices were eliminated and replaced by funerals arranged by undertakers. The author argued that the transformation of dead body disposal signifies not only the adaptation of the country to western civilization but also more restricted power imposed by the state on the body and corpse of individuals.
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References
Bock, C. (2007). Thō̜ngthin Sayām yuk Phraphutthačhaolūang [Temples and elephants: The Narrative of a journey of exploration through upper Siam and Laos]. Bangkok: Matichon.
Bradley, D. (1971). ‘Akkharāphithān [Dan Beach Bradley's dictionary of the Siamese language]. Bangkok: Business Organization of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teacher and Educational Personnel.
Kasetsiri, C. (2004). Prachum prakāt ratchakān thī sī [Collected Proclamations of King Mongkut]. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Texbooks Projects.
Kasetsiri, C. (2007). Rātchaʻānāčhak læ rātsadō̜n Sayām lem nưng [The Kingdom and people of Siam Vol. 1]. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Texbooks Projects.
Lailak, S. (1935). Prachum Kotmāi Pračham Sok Lem Nưng Kotmāi Trā Sām Dūang Tō̜n Nưng [Compilation of Thai laws from 1782 - 1936, Vol. 1, Tree seal law, Section 1]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.1.1/126. (n.d.). Khō̜ ʻanuyāt yok sop nai kamphǣng phra nakhō̜n rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphok [Ask for permission to convey the dead bodies in Phra Nakhon, R.E. 116]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.1.1/55. (n.d.). Nāi čhan phū fao pāchā watsakēt tham rư̄angrāo yư̄nyan wā batnī sop nakthōt rātsadō̜n nam mā thing thī pāchā māk khưn hāmī phư̄nthī čha phao mai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isipʻet [Jan, an undertaker at Sraket temple, appeals that in the present-day inhabitants leave lot of prisoner’s corpses at the cemetery, so that there is no more area to burn the corpses, R.E. 111]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/105. (n.d.). Mư̄n sathonlamāk wā mī sop Čhīn mīchư̄ tāi lō̜inam mā tit sao taphān hāng winsœ̄ ʻǣn kampanī dai ʻao paiyang wai wat sutthi wa rā rām lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Muen-Sathollamard reports about conveying a Chinaman’s corpse which found at Wilzer and Company to Sutthiwararama temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/35. (n.d.). Čhīn ʻưng pūai tāi Čhīn hūang ʻao sop thingtrō̜k ʻāmā kē ngō̜ rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isipsī - nưngrō̜isiphā [Huang leaves Ueng’s corpse, dead from sickness, at Ama-geng alley, R.E. 114 - 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/464. (n.d.). Sop Čhīn mīchư̄ lō̜inam mā rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A corpse of Chinaman floats along the river, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/466. (n.d.). Chāi mīchư̄ phūk khō̜ tāi thīwat phlapphlā chai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A man hangs himself to death at Plubpla-chai temple, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/51. (n.d.). Khun sī nakhō̜n ʻamphœ̄ tham rāingān yư̄n wā chāi mīchư̄ mān ʻon tāi yū thī rim bō̜ ʻon sīsamēt rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Khun-Srinakhara Amphoe reports about founding a corpse at Sisamet gambling house, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/52. (n.d.). Phrayā ʻintharā rāingān wā chāi mīchư̄ nō̜n tāi yū thī sān thā nam bān nāi chūang rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Phraya-Intra reports about founding a corpse at Waterfront pavilion of Chuang’s house, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/538. (n.d.). Mī phū ʻao sop dek sai mō̜ thing wai rim wat rāt būrana nưng sop rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsī [A corpse of baby is found inside a pot at Ratchaburana temple, R.E. 124]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/68. (n.d.). Phrayā ʻintharāthibō̜dī wā ʻamdǣng kham pen rōk charā nō̜n tāi thī pratū wat rātchabō̜phit rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Phraya-Intrarathipbodee reports about Kham, dead from senility, at the gate of Ratchabopit temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/75. (n.d.). Čhīn mīchư̄ tāi lō̜inam mā tit yū trong nā sālāwat dō̜kmai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [A corpse of Chinaman floats along the river and reaches at Waterfront pavilion of Dok-mai temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.4.1/27. (n.d.). Hai khun kalēwa rāk trūat sop thī čha mā phao pāchā wat mahā pharưthā rām thā mī bai ʻanuyāt lǣo yō̜m hai phao dai rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A command for undertaker to inspect the cremation license in all corpses which convey to burnat Maha-pruettharam temple, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/165. (n.d.). Hām rātsadō̜n fang sop - phao sop thīwat phlapphlā chai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isipčhet - nưngrō̜iyīsip [Disallow the inhabitants to bury or burn the corpses at Plubpla-chai temple, R.E. 117 - 120]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/372. (n.d.). Tat nangsư̄phim bāng kō̜k ngō̜māwā mī sop Čhīn lō̜inam thī bāng krabư̄ kap mī sop khon tāi dūai phlǣ thing yū nai thung nābān phrōng madư̄a nư̄a tambon sām sēn hai sư̄psūan čhatkān kǣkhai nan kap dai čhǣng hēt hai krasūang mahātthai sāp dūai lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [A royal command, refers to the news from Bangkok Time about corpses of one Chinamanfloating along a river in Bang-grabue and one dead body with wound left on the field in Ban-phrongmadua-nua at Samsen district, to inspect all corpses and report to Ministry of the Interior, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/408. (n.d.). Phrarātchathān nangsư̄phim bāng kō̜k hai kō̜ng trawēn taisūan wā khon phūying kap phūchāi dai phūk tit kan dūai chư̄ak tāi thī tambon pratūnam sa pra thum nan čhing rư̄ mai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [A royal command for policeman division to inspect the case of a couple hang themselves to death in Pratunam-saprathum district, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/21. (n.d.). ‘Amdǣng pūan ying māi khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop Čhīn hēng sāmī sưng pūai tāi yū thī monthon phit nulōk nan ʻō̜k paiyang mư̄ang Čhīn sang kō̜ng trawēn ʻanuyāt lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphok [Amdang-Puan asks for permission to convey her husband’s corpse from Phitsanulok to China, R.E. 126]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/6. (n.d.). Čhīn čhư̄a sēng ha khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop Čhīn lao chun hūa bidā sưng pai pūai tāi yū thī mư̄ang Suphan burī long mā tham kān chāpanakit thīwat samphanwong Krung Thēp rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsī [Chua-sengha asks for permission to convey his father’s corpse from Suphanburi to cremate at Samphantawong temple in Bangkok, R.E. 124]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/9. (n.d.). Čhīn yūan khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop kradūk Čhīn ngīap bidā sưng pūai tāi fang thīwat thalūang monthon nakhō̜n sawan khao māk ru ngō̜ thēp dōi thāng rotfai sāi pāknam phō phư̄a dai mā tham bun tām praphēnī dūai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [Yuan asks for permission to convey his father’s corpse which buried at Tha-luang temple in Nakhonsawan to Bangkok by a train, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5-R.6. (n.d.). Phrarātchahatthalēkhā Lem Song [Royal Secretariat, Section 2]. (n.p.).
Pallegoix, B. - Jean, B. (2009). Lao rư̄ang krung Sayām [Description du Royaume de Siam]. Nonthaburi: Sipanya.
Photčhanānukrom Chabap Rātchabanthittayasathān Phō̜.Sō̜. Sō̜ng phan Sīrō̜ikāosipsām [The Royal Institute Dictionary 1950]. (1981). (n.p.).
Photčhanānukrom Ra sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsip [Dictionary Rattanakosin Era 120]. (1968). Bangkok: Department of Education.
Rātchakitčhānubēksā Lēm sāmsipsī tō̜n thī sū [Royal Thai Government Gazette, Vol. 34, Section 0]. (1917). (n.p.).
Smith, M. (1999). Mō̜ farang nai wang Sayām [A physician at the court of Siam]. Bangkok: Ruamthat.
Bradley, D. (1971). ‘Akkharāphithān [Dan Beach Bradley's dictionary of the Siamese language]. Bangkok: Business Organization of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teacher and Educational Personnel.
Kasetsiri, C. (2004). Prachum prakāt ratchakān thī sī [Collected Proclamations of King Mongkut]. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Texbooks Projects.
Kasetsiri, C. (2007). Rātchaʻānāčhak læ rātsadō̜n Sayām lem nưng [The Kingdom and people of Siam Vol. 1]. Bangkok: The Foundation for the Promotion of Social Sciences and Humanities Texbooks Projects.
Lailak, S. (1935). Prachum Kotmāi Pračham Sok Lem Nưng Kotmāi Trā Sām Dūang Tō̜n Nưng [Compilation of Thai laws from 1782 - 1936, Vol. 1, Tree seal law, Section 1]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.1.1/126. (n.d.). Khō̜ ʻanuyāt yok sop nai kamphǣng phra nakhō̜n rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphok [Ask for permission to convey the dead bodies in Phra Nakhon, R.E. 116]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.1.1/55. (n.d.). Nāi čhan phū fao pāchā watsakēt tham rư̄angrāo yư̄nyan wā batnī sop nakthōt rātsadō̜n nam mā thing thī pāchā māk khưn hāmī phư̄nthī čha phao mai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isipʻet [Jan, an undertaker at Sraket temple, appeals that in the present-day inhabitants leave lot of prisoner’s corpses at the cemetery, so that there is no more area to burn the corpses, R.E. 111]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/105. (n.d.). Mư̄n sathonlamāk wā mī sop Čhīn mīchư̄ tāi lō̜inam mā tit sao taphān hāng winsœ̄ ʻǣn kampanī dai ʻao paiyang wai wat sutthi wa rā rām lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Muen-Sathollamard reports about conveying a Chinaman’s corpse which found at Wilzer and Company to Sutthiwararama temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/35. (n.d.). Čhīn ʻưng pūai tāi Čhīn hūang ʻao sop thingtrō̜k ʻāmā kē ngō̜ rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isipsī - nưngrō̜isiphā [Huang leaves Ueng’s corpse, dead from sickness, at Ama-geng alley, R.E. 114 - 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/464. (n.d.). Sop Čhīn mīchư̄ lō̜inam mā rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A corpse of Chinaman floats along the river, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/466. (n.d.). Chāi mīchư̄ phūk khō̜ tāi thīwat phlapphlā chai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A man hangs himself to death at Plubpla-chai temple, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/51. (n.d.). Khun sī nakhō̜n ʻamphœ̄ tham rāingān yư̄n wā chāi mīchư̄ mān ʻon tāi yū thī rim bō̜ ʻon sīsamēt rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Khun-Srinakhara Amphoe reports about founding a corpse at Sisamet gambling house, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/52. (n.d.). Phrayā ʻintharā rāingān wā chāi mīchư̄ nō̜n tāi yū thī sān thā nam bān nāi chūang rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Phraya-Intra reports about founding a corpse at Waterfront pavilion of Chuang’s house, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/538. (n.d.). Mī phū ʻao sop dek sai mō̜ thing wai rim wat rāt būrana nưng sop rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsī [A corpse of baby is found inside a pot at Ratchaburana temple, R.E. 124]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/68. (n.d.). Phrayā ʻintharāthibō̜dī wā ʻamdǣng kham pen rōk charā nō̜n tāi thī pratū wat rātchabō̜phit rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [Phraya-Intrarathipbodee reports about Kham, dead from senility, at the gate of Ratchabopit temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.23/75. (n.d.). Čhīn mīchư̄ tāi lō̜inam mā tit yū trong nā sālāwat dō̜kmai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isiphā [A corpse of Chinaman floats along the river and reaches at Waterfront pavilion of Dok-mai temple, R.E. 115]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.4.1/27. (n.d.). Hai khun kalēwa rāk trūat sop thī čha mā phao pāchā wat mahā pharưthā rām thā mī bai ʻanuyāt lǣo yō̜m hai phao dai rō̜sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsō̜ng [A command for undertaker to inspect the cremation license in all corpses which convey to burnat Maha-pruettharam temple, R.E. 122]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/165. (n.d.). Hām rātsadō̜n fang sop - phao sop thīwat phlapphlā chai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜isipčhet - nưngrō̜iyīsip [Disallow the inhabitants to bury or burn the corpses at Plubpla-chai temple, R.E. 117 - 120]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/372. (n.d.). Tat nangsư̄phim bāng kō̜k ngō̜māwā mī sop Čhīn lō̜inam thī bāng krabư̄ kap mī sop khon tāi dūai phlǣ thing yū nai thung nābān phrōng madư̄a nư̄a tambon sām sēn hai sư̄psūan čhatkān kǣkhai nan kap dai čhǣng hēt hai krasūang mahātthai sāp dūai lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [A royal command, refers to the news from Bangkok Time about corpses of one Chinamanfloating along a river in Bang-grabue and one dead body with wound left on the field in Ban-phrongmadua-nua at Samsen district, to inspect all corpses and report to Ministry of the Interior, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.1/408. (n.d.). Phrarātchathān nangsư̄phim bāng kō̜k hai kō̜ng trawēn taisūan wā khon phūying kap phūchāi dai phūk tit kan dūai chư̄ak tāi thī tambon pratūnam sa pra thum nan čhing rư̄ mai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [A royal command for policeman division to inspect the case of a couple hang themselves to death in Pratunam-saprathum district, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/21. (n.d.). ‘Amdǣng pūan ying māi khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop Čhīn hēng sāmī sưng pūai tāi yū thī monthon phit nulōk nan ʻō̜k paiyang mư̄ang Čhīn sang kō̜ng trawēn ʻanuyāt lǣo rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphok [Amdang-Puan asks for permission to convey her husband’s corpse from Phitsanulok to China, R.E. 126]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/6. (n.d.). Čhīn čhư̄a sēng ha khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop Čhīn lao chun hūa bidā sưng pai pūai tāi yū thī mư̄ang Suphan burī long mā tham kān chāpanakit thīwat samphanwong Krung Thēp rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsipsī [Chua-sengha asks for permission to convey his father’s corpse from Suphanburi to cremate at Samphantawong temple in Bangkok, R.E. 124]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5N.8.11/9. (n.d.). Čhīn yūan khō̜ ʻanuyāt nam sop kradūk Čhīn ngīap bidā sưng pūai tāi fang thīwat thalūang monthon nakhō̜n sawan khao māk ru ngō̜ thēp dōi thāng rotfai sāi pāknam phō phư̄a dai mā tham bun tām praphēnī dūai rō̜ sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsiphā [Yuan asks for permission to convey his father’s corpse which buried at Tha-luang temple in Nakhonsawan to Bangkok by a train, R.E. 125]. (n.p.).
Ministry of Local Government, Metropolitan and Provincial Police, R.5-R.6. (n.d.). Phrarātchahatthalēkhā Lem Song [Royal Secretariat, Section 2]. (n.p.).
Pallegoix, B. - Jean, B. (2009). Lao rư̄ang krung Sayām [Description du Royaume de Siam]. Nonthaburi: Sipanya.
Photčhanānukrom Chabap Rātchabanthittayasathān Phō̜.Sō̜. Sō̜ng phan Sīrō̜ikāosipsām [The Royal Institute Dictionary 1950]. (1981). (n.p.).
Photčhanānukrom Ra sō̜ nưngrō̜iyīsip [Dictionary Rattanakosin Era 120]. (1968). Bangkok: Department of Education.
Rātchakitčhānubēksā Lēm sāmsipsī tō̜n thī sū [Royal Thai Government Gazette, Vol. 34, Section 0]. (1917). (n.p.).
Smith, M. (1999). Mō̜ farang nai wang Sayām [A physician at the court of Siam]. Bangkok: Ruamthat.