Sunthorn Phu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phra
Sunthonwohan (Phu)
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The statue of Sunthonwohan (Phu) at Klaeng District, Rayong Province, Thailand
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| Born | Phu (ภู่) 26 June 1786 Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, Siam |
| Died | 1855 (aged 69) Taling Chan, Bangkok, Siam |
| Pen name | Sunthorn Phu (สุนทรภู่) |
| Occupation | Scribe or Poet |
| Language | Thai |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Genre | Fantasy or Historical |
| Notable works | Phra Aphai Mani |
| Children | 6 |
Phra Sunthonwohan (Thai: พระสุนทรโวหาร), better known as Sunthorn Phu (Thai: สุนทรภู่, RTGS: Sunthonphu), was a famous royal poet from Thailand. He lived from June 26, 1786, to 1855. He wrote many poems during the Rattanakosin period, which was a time when Bangkok became the capital of Thailand.
Sunthorn Phu started his career as a royal poet when King Rama II was ruling. After the king passed away, Sunthorn Phu left his job and became a Buddhist monk for a while. About twenty years later, during the time of King Rama III, he returned to the royal court. He worked there as a royal scribe for the rest of his life.
Sunthorn Phu was very good at writing poems. His long, epic poems are still very popular in Thailand today. Some of his most famous works include Nirat Phukhao Thong, which tells about his trip to the Golden Mountain. Another is Nirat Suphan, about his journey to Suphanburi Province. His most well-known work is the exciting story of Phra Aphai Mani.
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Sunthorn Phu's Life Story
Sunthorn Phu was born on June 26, 1786, during the rule of King Rama I. His family's home was near the royal palace in Bangkok. This area is now close to the Bangkok Noi railway station and Wang Lang market. His father was believed to be from Klaeng District, Rayong Province. However, some newer historians think his father might have been from Phetchaburi Province.
When Sunthorn Phu was born, Bangkok had only been the capital of Thailand for four years. This marked the start of the Rattanakosin era, which continues even today.
Sunthorn Phu's parents separated. His father became a monk. His mother worked for the royal family as a wet nurse. Sunthorn Phu also got a chance to work in the palace with his mother. There, he fell in love with a lady named Chan, who was related to the royal family. Their relationship was against the rules, so they were punished. But they were later forgiven when the king died.
Sunthorn Phu later traveled to Rayong to visit his father. He wrote a poem about this trip called Nirat Mueang Klaeng. This poem became one of his most famous works. He wrote it for Chan, who was his fiancée at the time. After returning to Bangkok, he married Chan, and they had a son named Phat. It was around this time that King Rama II made him a court poet.
Sunthorn Phu's marriage to Chan did not last long. He married several times throughout his life. However, he later said that Chan was the wife he loved the most. Around 1821, Sunthorn Phu was put in jail after a disagreement. While in prison, he started writing Phra Aphai Mani. He published this long story in parts over the next twenty years. The epic tale is about Prince Aphai Mani and his exciting adventures in ancient Thailand.
King Rama II was very happy with Sunthorn Phu's poems. He gave him the special title of "Khun". But during the rule of King Rama III, Sunthorn Phu made a mistake. He publicly corrected a poem written by the king. As a punishment, he lost his title. After this, he first became a Buddhist monk, and then worked as a merchant.
Later, King Rama IV's daughter read his unfinished story, Phra Aphai Mani. She asked the poet to finish it. King Rama IV then appointed Sunthorn Phu as the Director of Royal Scribes. He also gave him a new title, "Phra". Sunthorn Phu passed away in 1855 at his home near the Khlong Chak Phra canal in Taling Chan District, Bangkok.
Sunthorn Phu's Lasting Impact
Sunthorn Phu left behind many poems that have become very famous. They are loved for how they describe Thai history and culture. In 1986, which was 200 years after his birth, UNESCO honored Sunthorn Phu as a great world poet. His Phra Aphai Mani poems describe a magical world. In this world, people from different backgrounds and beliefs live and interact peacefully together.
Recently, Sunthorn Phu's stories have been made into different types of media. These include comic books, movies, and songs. The Adventure of Sudsakorn (1979) was the first and only hand-drawn animated movie in Thai cinema. It was based on a character from Phra Aphai Mani. A live-action movie of the story, called Legend of Sudsakorn, was also made in 2006.
You can find statues of two characters from Phra Aphai Mani on Hat Sai Kaeo beach on Ko Samet. These are Prince Aphai Mani and the siren/mermaid character.
Sunthorn Phu Memorial Park
A special memorial for Sunthorn Phu was built in Klaeng District, Rayong Province. This is where his father was born. His birthday, June 26, is celebrated every year in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu Day.
The Sunthorn Phu Memorial Park covers about 33 acres of land. The first stone for the park was laid in 1955. However, construction stopped for ten years until 1968. The governor of Rayong at that time helped to buy the land for the park. It was finished on March 5, 1970, and officially opened on May 25, 1970.
The memorial is located on a hillside. There are three sculptures around the main statue of Sunthorn Phu. These other sculptures show important characters from his stories. They include Prince Aphai Mani, the ocean butterfly, and the mermaid. Different artists created these sculptures. Sukij Laidej made the Sunthorn Phu statue. Gaisorn Srisuwan sculpted Aphai Mani. Saroj Jaruc carved the mermaid, and Thana Laohathaikul made the ocean butterfly.
See also
In Spanish: Sunthorn Phu para niños
