Royal Barge Procession


Thailand's Royal Barge Procession is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has taken place for nearly 700 years. The royal barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, marking only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the long reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 70 years, the procession only occurred 16 times.
The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges: 51 historical barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Dusit district, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and finally arrives at Wat Arun.

History

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession can be dated back to the Sukhothai Kingdom from the 13–14th centuries. However, further examination of the Thai chronicle, Phraratchaphongsawadan Nuea, found that it could be traced back to the 11th century.

Pre-Ayutthaya era (Ayodhya period)

In the 11th century, the Thai chronicle, Phraratchaphongsawadan Nuea, recorded the royal barge procession of Prince Sai Nam Peung, a pre-Ayudhya king of Siam who had set the barge and landed at the cape of Wat Pak Klong temple. Later he ascended to the governor seat with the regnal name, Phra Chao Sai Nam Pung, and ruled the Ayodhya region from 1165–1205.

Sukhothai era

In the reign of King Ram Khamhaeng the royal barge procession was performed at Loy Krathong ceremony.
The Ram Khamhaeng Inscription 1292 AD reads:–
after which he watched and listened to people, men and women, sing and play... Whenever the royal barge alighted in front of a monastery, officials lighted fireworks..

In the reign of King Maha Thammaracha I, the King of Sukhothai performed a royal barge ceremony using a boat on the lake in the middle of his grand palace.

Ayutthaya era

Since Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 14th century, strategic waterways and water transportation became more important to the Siamese people, according to the Safine-ye Solaymani mentioned variant of Shahr-i Nāv or Shahr-i Nau , literally "City of Boats, Canals" with reference to Ayutthaya Kingdom. The traditional plays and competitions, i.e. the Siamese long boat racing festival described in the Royal Ceremonies of the Twelve Months, were celebrated at peace, and the grand parade of the royal fleet rushed out to confront the enemies at war.
In 1582, according to Marcelo de Ribadeneira’s archive, History of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago and the Kingdoms of Great China, Tartary, Cochinchina, Malacca, Siam, Cambodia, and Japan, the Franciscan missionary friar recorded the testimony of a Franciscan friar who came to reside in Siam in 1582. The Ribadeneira’s archive described the royal barge procession of King Maha Thammarachathirat in Spanish:–
In 1594–98, King Naresuan performed the royal barge procession before leading his 120,000 battalions to attack the Burmese Hanthawaddy kingdom. When the moment was auspicious, the royal astrologer then ordered vassals to beat the drum for the oarsmen and sailed the royal barge Sri Suphannahong ahead, on which the barge installed a golden Gautama Buddha containing the holy relics of the Lord Buddha, Phra Phichai, to lead the procession for good fortune. King Naresuan then ordered vassals to sail his royal barge Kanokratanawiman Mahanawa, following the royal barge Sri Suphannahong to celebrate the auspiciousness of His Majesty.
In 1684, during the reign of King Narai, the spectacle of the procession was in the memoirs of a number of foreign dignitaries who witnessed the event. The Royal Barge Procession was assigned to hail the arrival of Chevalier de Chaumont Mon. Alexandre, the envoy of King Louis XIV to Siam. Nicolas Gervaise, a French missionary and member of the French diplomatic corps, described the procession:–
In 1687, Simon de la Loubère, a French diplomat to Siam, handwrote the royal barge procession of King Narai in his famous book, Du Royaume de Siam:–
File:Simon de la loubere balon-du-corps-du-roy-de-siam-1687.jpg|260px|thumb|Balon du Corps du Roy de Siam ou eſtoit la lattre du Roy. The Royal barge of King of Siam in 1687–88 illustrated by Simon de La Loubère, French diplomat to Siam of King Louis XIV.
European visitors witnessed and wrote about "an immense procession with 200 boats" upon their arrival in Thailand in the 17th century; one witness was Pierre Brigot, bishop of Tabraca Vicar Apostolic in Siam; later, it was collected in the book History of the Kingdom of Siam compiled by François Henri Turpin:–
During the processions, the oarsmen were kept in rhythm by the beating of drums, with accompanying music. This traditional boat song was written by Prince Dhamma Dibes of the late-Ayutthaya period.
Most of the vessels in the procession doubled as warships, and when war erupted, the barges and boats were used as weapons.

Thonburi era

In 1767, the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya Kingdom, and, for the second and last time, were able to capture the capital, Ayutthaya. The entire fleet was burned and destroyed after the Burmese found them at their hideaway. General Taksin rallied the Thais and established a new capital at Thonburi. During his short 15-year reign, Taksin ordered the reconstruction of the barge fleet, and used a fleet of 115 barges to carry a revered likeness of Buddha to his new capital.
Chao Phaya Chakri succeeded King Taksin and moved the capital to the east side of the river to what is now known as Bangkok. Chao Phaya Chakri, founder of the Chakri dynasty, ruled as King Buddha Yodfah and began the Royal Kathin Ceremony Procession. The Kathin Ceremony is a presentation of Kathin robes to monks and earns merit by honoring and supporting Buddhism.

Rattanakosin era–present

Soon after his coronation in 1782, King Rama I ordered construction of the royal barge Si Suphannahong. The Si Suphannahong was the principal royal barge for more than a century. In 1911, King Rama VI launched its successor, also named Suphannahong.
The Prince of Nakhon Sawan, during the reign of Rama V, devised fleet formations, which became the standard "major" and "minor" formations used today.
In 1870, Anna H. Leonowens, the teacher to the children of the Siamese, wrote of the Royal Barge Procession of Ananta Nakkharat boat on her own distinct perspective and experience in the heart of an Asiatic court in the reign of King Rama V. Her work was published in the English Governess at the Siamese Court—the forbidden resale book in Siam.:–
Processions took place occasionally until the absolute monarchy ended in 1932. Most of the royal barges were kept near Thonburi train station. It was bombed in WWII, destroying a large number of royal barges. They were not employed again until the celebration of the 25th century of the Buddhist Era in 1957. In 1959, Bhumibol Adulyadej revived the Royal Barge Procession as a means of presenting the Royal Kathin in a royal ceremony.

Modern processions

King Rama IX

In the reign of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej, 16 royal barge processions were conducted:

Major sailings

  • The Buddhist Era 25th century celebrations - 14 May 1957
  • Royal Barge Procession in the Bangkok Bicentenary Celebrations, 5 April 1982
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 20 October 1982
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 16 October 1987
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 7 November 1996
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 4 November 1999
  • Royal Barge Procession for APEC Meeting 20 October 2003
  • King's 60th – Diamond Jubilee of the king's accession to the throne. 12 June 2006
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 5 November 2007
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, scheduled for 22 October 2011, but postponed due to massive flooding and run on 9 November 2012.

    Additional sailings (Royal Kathin)

  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 15 November 1959
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 2 November 1961
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 22 October 1962
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 15 November 1964
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 19 October 1965
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 27 October 1967
  • Barge Procession to transport a Buddha Image, 12 April 1982

    King Rama X

In the reign of King Rama X, Vajiralongkorn, the following royal barge processions were conducted:
  • Royal Barge Procession for the Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 12 December 2019
  • Royal Barge Procession for Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun, 27 October 2024

    Fleet formations

The Royal Barge Procession is conducted in one of two formations, the major or the minor. The major formation, also known as the Major Battle Formation dates from the time of King Narai. This formation is used for the more significant events, such as the Royal Kathin Ceremony, the movement of a sacred image of Buddha, or important occasions of state. The Petch Phuang Formation is arranged into five columns, with the royal barges in the center, and two rows of war barges on each side. In the minor formation, there are three columns, the royal barges in the middle, and a single row on each side.

Major barge procession formation

Arranged in five rows.
  • 1 pair of lead barges which historically carried high-ranking officials with the position equivalent to today's ministry permanent secretary.
  • 1 pair of ancient Thai battle boats with cannons at the bow. They historically carried military courtiers.
  • 2 pairs of plain outer barges
  • 4 pairs of inner barges with decorated mastheads in the shape of the garuda, monkeys, and ogres.
  • 1 outer drum boat, 1 inner drum boat, with six musicians each playing the Pi and the klong khaek.
  • 1 inner, 1 outer boat for the Royal Police.
  • The Ekachai Barge with covered throne for monks' robes, the Buddha image or flower arrangements complete with regalia.
  • The Ekachai Hern Hao Barge and the Ekachai Lao Thong Barge, carrying musicians from the Prakhom band of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the military bands of the Royal Thai Army to lead the Royal Barge.
  • The Royal Barge with covered throne and regalia
  • Pavilion Barge for the king's change of robes
  • Second Royal barge
  • 1 pair of Police barges
  • 2 pairs of Army barges
  • 1 pair of plain rear barges