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 Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Po, and finally arrives at Wat Arun.

History

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession most likely began during the Ayutthaya period in the 14th century. Western visitors witnessed and wrote about an "immense procession with 200 boats" upon their arrival in Thailand in the 18th century. 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.
In 1767, Burma invaded Thailand, and, for the second and last time, were able to capture the capital, Ayuttaya. 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 honouring and supporting Buddhism.
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.
Processions took place occasionally until the absolute monarchy ended in 1932. Most of 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

Occurrences

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

Major sailings

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.

The royal barges

The names of the four royal barges are composed in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachatphuchong". The royal barge's arrangement in the procession would have "Anantanakkharat" leading, with the "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban" and "Anekkachatphuchong" following respectively.
Suphannahong
สุพรรณหงส์		Anantanakkharat
อนันตนาคราช		Anekkachatphuchong
อเนกชาติภุชงค์		Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX
นารายณ์ทรงสุบรรณ รัชกาลที่ ๙
Length:46.15 m44.85 m45.67 m44.30 m
Width at beam:3.17 m2.58 m2.91 m3.20 m
Hull depth:94 cm87 cm91 cm1.10 cm
Draught:41 cm31 cm1.46 m
Displacement:15 tons15.26 tons7.7 tons20 tons
Crew:50 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
2 officers fore
2 officers aft
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
7 bearers of the royal insignia		54 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
7 bearers of the royal insignia		61 oarsmen
2 steersmen
1 chanter
1 signalman
1 standard bearer
2 officers
7 bearers of the royal insignia		50 oarsmen
2 steersmen

Other barges

Escort barges

Escort barges consist of different classes of barges. Most of their bows are decorated with either a painting or a figurehead of a mythical creature. Other types have less elaborate design. The barges with figureheads have rowers dressed in decorated purple uniforms with pink trousers and red ancient-style helmets with a tall crown and wide brim. The oarsmen on the Ekachai class are dressed in white uniforms with pink trousers and small red headgear with s.
Most of the barges of the fleet are lesser escorts and attendants such as Ruea Dang, Ruea Saeng, police barges, and drum barges. They have no figurehead or cannon. They are painted mostly black, and their type, number, and name is painted on their bows in white. They can be differentiated as follows:
The present fleet of barges was restored during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as some had suffered damage in bombing raids on Bangkok during World War II. The dock that stored them, located in the Bangkok Noi District, became the National Museum of Royal Barges. Only eight important barges, including all four royal barges, are displayed in the museum due to limits of space. Displayed with the boats are a number of smaller historical artifacts related to the barge processions, such as old procession layout plans and some partial remains of the older decommissioned and/or damaged boats, including the bow and figurehead of the old Narai Song Suban. The remainder are kept at Wasukri Pier, next to the National Library of Thailand. All are stored out of the water to prevent deterioration. They return to the Chao Phraya River only for a Royal Barge Procession.