The Thai National Anthem (
Thai: เพลงชาติไทย,
romanized: Phleng chāt Thai[pʰlēːŋt͡ɕʰâːt̚tʰāj]) is the title of
Thailand's
national anthem, which was adopted in its current form on 10 December 1939. It replaced "
Sansoen Phra Barami" in 1932, which remains as the
royal anthem of Thailand. The melody was composed by
Phra Chenduriyang (Peter Feit), and the words were made by
Luang Saranupraphan. Phleng chāt (
Thai: เพลงชาติ), literally meaning "national anthem", is a general term for a national anthem. The term is also used to refer to this specific song.
which was the royal composition of King
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II) for use as the new anthem. King Chulalongkorn later ordered Mr.Heutsen, a Dutch bandmaster who served in the Royal Siamese Army, to arrange the song in western style for performing by the military band. According to a research of
Sugree Charoensuk, an associate professor from
Mahidol University, the melody of this anthem may be the same tune with another anthem named Sansoen Suea Pa (
Thai: เพลงสรรเสริญเสือป่า : Tiger Corps Hymn) which was used as the anthem of the
Wild Tiger Corps since 1911.[1]
After
Siamese revolution of 1932, the anthem was classified into 2 factions, Phleng Chat Thai was used as national anthem and Sansoen Phra Barami was still used as royal anthem. In 1939 the country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand and the anthem's lyrics was changed from the words Siam to Thai.
Historical background
National anthem before 1932
Before 1932,
Sansoen Phra Barami (the Royal Anthem) was used as the national anthem of Siam.
I
Siamese land is renowned as the land of gold.
The Thais have conquered this beautiful land.
The Thai people have served it ever since the Ancient times.
United, we have defended it
In some eras, our foes have attacked us.
But the Thais sacrificed their lives to save their motherland.
With blood, we fought for our sovereignty
And hitherto we have kept Siam alive.
II
This Siamese land is the bulwark of the Thai race
Our blood runs through this nation's veins.
Independence is like a pagoda we honor[note 1]
We will rise and stand as one.
To protect our motherland and sovereignty so dear.[note 2]
There will be no mercy for those who dishonor it.
We shall massacre them until their last.
To glorify our great Siamese land, Hurrah!
First national anthem competition (1934)
In 1934, Thai government launched competitions for the official national anthem, for both melody and lyrics. Changwang Tua Phathayakoson (จางวางทั่ว พัทยโกศล) composed a tune in a traditional style called Phleng Maha Nimit, but Phra Chenduriyang's melody was selected because it sounded more modern.
Second national anthem competition
After that, in the competition for the lyrics with Phra Chenduriyang's music, the original words by Khun Wichitmatra took first prize. They were in use until 1939, with a minor edit and an additional version written by second prize winner Chan Khamvilai (ฉันท์ ขำวิไล) adopted in 1934.[2][3][4]
I
Let us all sacrifice our lives
To maintain the rights to freedom the land of Siam
That the ancestors tried to fight until their death
Eliminate the enemies of Thailand to perish
Even though the Thai disaster is inferior
But still able to restore the independence back
It is an honor to the beautiful
Ayutthaya
That is not an end to good people.
II
All of us, we are of Thai blood
Doesn't allow anyone to oppress us
Protect rights and freedom
When disaster helped each other until the day of death
If we die, the name will be spread
That Thailand is firmly in love with the nation
Have great friendship for both men and women
The glory of Siam will never be lost, Hurrah!
Thai Cultural Revolution
In 1939, when the name of the country was changed from
Siam to Thailand, a competition was launched to create new lyrics, with those by
Luang Saranupraphan winning.
Thai prime ministerPlaek Phibunsongkhram ordered the anthem to be played every day at 08:00 and 18:00 (8 AM and 6 PM), and ordered the populace to stand up to show respect for the nation. Nowadays, the morning and evening anthems correspond to the hoisting and lowering of the national flags in public areas (e.g. schools, workplaces, public buildings), respectively; hence, the anthem is broadcast by both radio and television channels twice per day from 1980's.
Thailand unites the flesh and blood of
Thais.
The land of Thailand belongs to the Thais.
Long has been our independence,
Because we have been united forever.
Thais love peace, but are not cowards in
war.
Our sovereignty will never be threatened.
We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our nation.
We are ready to die for freedom, security and prosperity, hurrah!
Current usages
According to the practice dates from 1939s during the
Plaek Phibunsongkhram era and The Flag Act of 1979, Thais must stop what they are doing and stand at attention to pay homage to the anthem played by all Thai media outlets, twice a day, at 08:00 and again at 18:00. Students in school stand in front of the raised flag and sing the national anthem at 08:00 every school day, while those who do not observe the custom by standing in silence during the anthem are subject to a fine of up to 2,000 baht and not more than one year in prison.[6]
See also
"
Sansoen Phra Barami" (Thai national anthem before 1932, still used as the royal anthem)
^
abThe original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the lineเอกราษฎร์คือกระดูกที่เราบูชา ("Independence is like the bones we honor") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.
^
abThe original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the line ยึดอำนาจกุมสิทธิ์อิสสระเสรี ("To take power and hold the rights of independence and freedom") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.
^This part of the lyric, as
officially published in the
Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 51, section 0 ง, dated 26 August 1934, was printed as "แม้ถึงไทยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ". This differs from the original handwritten lyrics by Chan Khamvilai, "แม้ถึงภัยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ", leading to a confused meaning. Because of this, the article uses the original lyric as written by Chan Khamvilai instead of the version published in the gazette (See Jeamteerasakul, Somsak. ความเป็นมาของเพลงชาติไทยปัจจุบัน. pp. 45-46)
^https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/thai.pdf The transliteration system used here is a slightly modified version of ALA-LC (which itself is based on RTGS 1939); the differences being that č and ‘ are absent in the transliteration provided below.