Table Of Content

The Journal of the Siam Society VOLUME 79, PART 1 1991 © All Rights Reserved The Siam Society 1991 ISSN 0857-7099 Printed by Amarin Printing Group Co., Ltd., 413/27-36 Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. Tel. 434-0286 Front cover : Footed jar from Wat Phra That Haripunjaya, 13th century. Photo courtesy Wat Phra That Haripun'aya Museum. See pp. 88, 92. THE SIAM SOCIETY PATRON His Majesty the King VICE-PATRONS Her Majesty the Queen Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhom Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana HON. PRESIDENT Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana HON. VICE-PRESIDENTS Mom Kobkaew Abhakara na Ay udhaya H.S.H. Prince Subhadradis Diskul Maj. Gen. M.R. Kukrit Pramoj Professor Chitti Tingsabadh HON. MEMBERS The Ven. Dhammaghosacariya (Buddhadasa Bhikkhu) The Ven. Debvedi (Payutto) Dr. Fua Haripitak Dr. Puey Ungphakom Dr. Kraisri Nimmanahaeminda Dr. Sood Saengvichien H.R.H. Prince Chand Chirayu Rajani Professor William Gedney Professor Prawase Wasi, M.D. HON. AUDITOR Mr. Yukta na Thalang HON. ARCHITECT Mr. Sirichai Narumit HON. LEGAL COUNSEL Mr. John Hancock HON. LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT Mr. William Warren COUNCIL OF THE SIAM SOCIETY FOR 1991/92 Dr. Piriya Krairiksh President Dr. Tern Smitinand Vice President Mr. Dacre F.A. Raikes, 0. B. E. Vice President Dr. Rachit Burl Vice President Mrs. Virginia M. Di Crocco Honorary Secretary Mrs. Jada Wattanasiritham Honorary Treasurer Mr. Sidhijai Tanphiphat Honorary Librarian Dr. Warren Y. Brockelman Honorary Editor of the NHB Mr. James V. Di Crocco Honorary Editor of the JSS Prof. Dr. Sanga Sabhasri Leader of the Natural History Section H.E. Mr. George A. Sioris Honorary Officer Prof. Wongchan Pinainitisatra Honorary Officer MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL: Mrs. Bonnie Davis Mr. Barent Springsted Mr. Kamjohn Kemasingki Mr. James Stent Dr. Philippe E. Annez Dr. Chaiyudh Khantaprab Mr. Henri Pagau-Clarac Dr. Charit Tingsabadh Mr. Teddy Spha Palasthira Dr. Steven J. Torok Mrs. Vipavadee Patpongpibul Mr. Swai Vivorakij Dr. Thawatchai Santisuk Mr. Peter Rogers Mr. Smitthi Siribhadra Editor's Note Special appreciation goes to Peter Rogers, Honorary Chairman of the Publications Committee of The Siam Society, for stepping in to furnish assistance to the JSS above and beyond the call of duty during the absence of the Honorary Editor on a trip abroad during a crucial period. Thanks as always go to Euayporn Kerdchouay, Administrative Secre tary, and to the Assistant Administrative Secretary, Anothai Nanthithasana; also to Dr. Fran<;ois Lagirarde and Dr. Walde mar C. Sailer for their helpfulness. A special word of thanks is extended to Sulak Sivaraksa, a former Honorary Editor of The Journal of the Siam Society, for his assistance in making available various book reviews. The Journal of the Siam Society VOLUME 79, PART 1 1991 CONTENTS Editor 's Note 4 In This Issue 7 IN COMMEMORATION : 8 BONNIE DAVIS CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENARY OF H.R.H. PRINCE WAN WAITHAYAKORN GALA DINNER LAUNCHES FUND 10 PETER ROGERS RAISING DRIVE ARTICLES THE MAJOR ROLE OF THE MONS 13 NAI PAN HLA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA THE ULTIMATE ORIGIN 22 EMMANUEL GUILLON OF THE WORLD, OR THE MULA MUH NOTES ON MON EPIGRAPHY 31 CHRISTIAN BAUER CERAMIC WARES OF 84 VIRGINIA M. DI CROCCO THE HARIPUNJA YA AREA THAI HISTORY? 99 MOM CHAO CHAND WHAT THAI HISTORY? NOTES AND COMMENTS A POINT OF CORRECTION 101 JEROLD A. EDMONDSON DAVID B. SOLNIT REVIEWS PAUL STRACHAN 103 EMMANUEL GUILLON Pagan: Art and Architecture of Old Burma MICHAEL AUNG-THWIN 105 H. LEEDOM LEFFERTS, JR. Irrigation in the Heartland of Burma : Foundations of the Pre-Colonial Burmese State SATYA VRA T SHASTRI 106 VISUDH BUSYAKUL Sriramakirtimahakavyam (A Sanskrit Mahakavyam on the Thai Ramakien) HENRY GINSBURG 109 BONNIE BRERETON Thai Manuscript Painting JOHN MC KINNON AND 112 ERIK COHEN BERNARD VIENNE (eds.) Hill Tribes Today : Problems in Change SULAK SIVARAKSA ET AL. 114 WILLIAM J. KLAUSNER Radical Conservatism : Buddhism in the Contemporary world PRIDI BANOMYONG 116 s. SOBHANA The King of the White Elephant BHADANT ANAND KAUSALYAYAN 116 CRAIG BARCAL Dr. Ambedkar: The Liberator OBITUARY In Memory of Mom Rachawongse 117 RACHIT BURl PatanachaiJayant In This Issue The centenary of the birth of one of Thailand's most CHRISTIAN BAUER then performs the arduous task outstanding personalities, H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithayakom, of updating Shorto's classic dictionary of Mon inscriptions in is being celebrated in 1991 in Bangkok, Paris, Geneva and his extensive "Notes on Mon Epigraphy," complete with charts New York as part of the UNESCO Calendar of Great Person and maps, incorporating findings since Shorto's work and alites and Historic Events. BONNIE DAVIS recalls his emi including the most recent information. nence as diplomat and scholar, his dedication to the prin A new look at the ceramics of the long-enduring ciples of the United Nations which he served both as the Mon kingdom of Haripunjaya, located in what is now Thai ambassador of his country and as President of the General land, is taken by VIRGINIA M. DI CROCCO, who scrutinizes Assembly, and his distinguished presidency of The Siam aspects of Haripunjaya wares to include fabric, design and Society for many years. dating. The evening of 14 August 1991 was marked by an Leaving the Mons to re-examine two points of inter event of splendid pomp and circumstance for The Siam est in Thai history, we present comments by Honorary Member Society. At the Hilton International Hotel in Bangkok our of The Siam Society, His Serene Highness Prince CHAND Honorary President, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani CHIRA YU RAJ ANI-poet, historian, epigrapher, polymath, Vadhana, graciously presided over a gala dinner that launched witty master of the creative and documentary literary an intensive fund raising campaign designed to prepare the arts - whose 80th birthday was celebrated last year in Chiang Society for the challenges of the twenty-first century now just Mai with deep appreciation for his wide-ranging contribu around the comer. Unprecedented in the 87-year history of tions to the understanding of Thai culture. the Society was the appearance of the Prime Minister of Thailand as guest speaker. His Excellency Mr. Anand Panyara Under Notes and Comments JEROLD A EDMOND chun drew his audience of 400 into gales of laughter with his SON and DAVID B. SOLNIT respond to a statement by Cantabrigian wit and into profound thought with his creative JAMES R. CHAMBERLAIN in his review (JSS 77.2, 88-90) of insights into the Royal Thai Government's attitudes toward their recent study on Comparative Kadai. Dr. Chamberlain took and plans for private volunteer organizations like our Soci exception to their rearrangement of the Proto-Tai tonal cate ety. PETER ROGERS summarizes the evening for us. gories into what he considers a Chinese frame of reference. Drs. Edmondson and Solnit defend their position; Dr. Cham The central theme of this issue is the Mons and their berlain sticks to his guns. significant role as the pioneering vectors of a distinctive artis tic and religious culture in Thailand and its neighboring Finally, we note with deep regret the passing in 1991 countries. of two major figures in the field of Thai studies. M.R. PATANACHAI JAYANT was President of The Siam Society NAI PAN HLA, former associate of Gordon H. Luce, Under Royal Patronage from 1981 to 1989, and most recently senior epigraphist, historian, editor and promoter of things was Honorary Vice-President of the Society. DR. RACHIT Mon, surveys the cultural contributions of the Mons (his own BURl, Vice-President of the Siam Society and formerly Leader people) in a special article written from a lifetime of experi of the Natural History Section, a close friend and associate of ence and first delivered as a lecture at the Siam Society. M.R. Patanachai, speaks for all of us as he marks his passing EMMANUEL GUILLON next examines aspects of in an affectionate memorial. Also, the legendary ALEXAN Mon cosmology, with particular reference to creation myths, DER B. GRISWOLD, whose profound scholarship and ele as expressed in the narrative best known as the mula muh. gant commentary enhanced many an issue of The Journal of Dr. Guillon's contribution constitutes a chapter in his forth the Siam Society, passed away in Maryland on 4 October. Our coming book on The Mons: A Civilization of Southeast Asia soon next issue will contain his obituary. ·Further memorials will to be published by the Siam Society. follow. CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENARY OF H.R.H. PRINCE WAN WAITHAYAKORN BONNIE DAVIS MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL THE SIAM SOCIETY H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithayakorn was born in Ban Tanao, Samranrat District of Bangkok, on August 25, 1891. He attended Suan Kularb School and Raj Widyalai School (King's College) for his early education. At the age of four teen he was granted a King's Scholarship and left Siam to study in England. There he attended the prestigious Marlbor ough College until1910. From Marlborough he entered Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with honors and a degree in history. Following his graduation from Oxford, Prince Wan moved to Paris where he matriculated at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques studying diplomacy. Again His Royal Highness graduated with honor for his scholastic achieve ments. Because World War I had not yet ended, the govern ment considered it unsafe for the Prince to travel back to Siam. This was the beginning of his long and distinguished diplomatic career, for in 1917 he was appointed a third sec retary at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris. In 1922 Prince Wan returned to work in the Foreign Office in Bangkok where he worked under Prince De vawongse. He was also appointed to serve as an advisor to H.M. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). In 1924, at the age of only 33 years, he was promoted to the rank of Undersecretary for ., Foreign Affairs. In this position he had the responsibility of negotiating several amendments to treaties with western ' ' , ., powers. ' t ,f ~-. Prince Wan returned to Europe in 1926 when he was tJ accredited as Minister to the United Kingdom, the Nether lands and Belgium. During this period His Royal Highness . served also as the head of the Thai Delegation to the League of Nations. He returned home in 1930 and accepted a professor H.R.H. Prince Wan was an active member of The Siam ship in the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University where Society under Royal Patronage for a great many years. In he taught both the Thai and English languages. Following 1937 he translated the revised rules of The Siam Society into the coup d'etat in 1932, Prince Wan was one of the few Thai, from the original English draft. By 1943 Prince Wan members of the Royal Family to have an active role in the was serving not only as Senior Vice-President of the Council new government. He was not identified with any particular but concurrently as Chairman of the Finance Committee and party -he worked only to serve his country. Membership Committee. He was elected President of The