Chakri Memorial Day (Chakri Day), 6 April

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Chakri Memorial Day (Chakri Day), 6 April

April 6, 2024

As April 6, 2023 marks the highly auspicious Chakri Momorial Day remembering King Rama the 1^st, the Founder of the current Chakri Dynasty which has greatly and beneficially influenced and contributed to Thailand' s prosperity, rich cultural fibres and precious Thai cultural heritages

Officially known as 'King Buddha YodfaChulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day', Chakri Day commemorates the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty by Phra Buddha YodfaChulaloke (Rama I) in 1782.

King Buddha YodfaChulaloke (Rama I) (1737–1809)

Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj, also known as Rama I (20 March 1736 – 7 September 1809), was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Thailand). His full title in Thai is Phra Bat Somdet Phra Paramoruracha Mahachakkriborommanat Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Thai: พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรโมรุราชามหาจักรีบรมนารถ พระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลก).

He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King Taksin of Thonburi. He was also celebrated as the founder of Rattanakosin (now Bangkok) as the new capital of the reunited kingdom.

Promotion of Buddhism.

King Rama I was a devout maht and strictly obeyed the doctrine of Lord Buddha, he intended on promoting the Buddhism in Thailand, and one of his important activities was the restoration of temples in the city of Bangkok

Compilation and Revision of Tripitaka

In 1788, the King said that the Tripitaka (The teaching of Lord Buddba, which are 1. "Discipline” consisting of a series of instruction for the monks, 2. “Sermon and Addresses" to all, and 3. “Metapbysics" or "Superior Truths"). Tripitaka is very important for the Buddhists to behave themselves according to the rules of Buddhism, but the Pali Canons of Tripitaka scatteredand kept in different places, King Rama I intended that the Tripitaka should be compiled and revised and kept it at a certain place.

Compilation and Revision of Laws

The cause of revision of laws in the reign of King Rama I, it began from a petition of Nai Boon Sri asking the for the justice of the judgment of his case, because he thought that the a decision made by the Judge was unjust Chao Phraya Sri Thammaraj reported the case of Nai Boon Sri to King Rama I that Nai Boon Sri who served the royal government servant, as the royal blacksmith, he signed the petition asking the King about the judgment of the judge (PhraKasem)

The case was that Umdang Pom (Mrs Pom), bis wife who did wrong of adultery with Nai Raja Adt one of the Judges Committee, Mrs Pom accused Nai Boon Sri of her divorce to the court. Nai Boon Sri told the court that Mrs Pom had no right to devorce, because Mrs Pom had an adulterous connection with the judge The court had dismissed hisargument of adultery on the ground that Mrs Pom or Um Dang Pom bad a right by the law to divorce her husband.

The King suspected about the provision of old laws and looking up, it was found that in the provision of the old laws, stating that A woman could always divorce her husband without any guilty. King Rama I realized that some principles of the old laws were not suitable and unjust.

The King Concentrated upon a literature.

King Rama I was interested in literature, the book of “Rajathiraj”, this book is the story concerning the history of Mon, narrating in Thai by Chao: Phraya Phraklung (Hon) In addition, King Rama I, took part in writing Thai literature, they were,

The poem of the story of Thai fought Burmese at Ta-Dindang
The Dance drama of Unnaruth
The Drama of Ramakien (The story of Ramayana)
The Drama of Inao (The romantic story of the ancient Indonesian kings)
The Drama of Dalang (the same as no 4)
The Drama of Kaki
The Buddhism Literature of Vessontara Jataka (The story of the previous birth of the Buddha.)

King Rama I died in 1809 at the age 74, he reigned over Thailand for 28 years. Prince Issarasunthorn his son, succeeded to the throne being known as King Rama II.

Chakri day commemorates the coronation of Rama I but it is also a day for the people of Thailand to recognize the contributions of all the kings in the dynasty.

The current and tenth King (Rama X) of the dynasty is His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, who succeeded his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) who died in October 2016. The King, accompanied by other members of the royal household, presides over the religious ceremonies held at the royal chapel. Government offices, schools, and banks close, but most other businesses open as usual on this day.

It is to be noted that the AU Campuses are the existing show pieces displaying, preserving and manifesting Thai uniqeness, Thai arts: exhibiting Thai historical and cultural values.

Spectacular colorful wall paintings, elegant Thai pavilions, building's interior designs, statues, names of places and major building gates etc, seen around the campuses showcase or reflect the Thai uniqueness, arts and cultures which perplex, inspire and reinforce both the AU Thai and international students' cultural learning and appreciation.

Can find more information from these two books “Guide to AU Bangna: The Cathedral of Learning” and “จากทุ่งนาสู่อาสนวิหารแห่งการเรียนรู้: มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ วิทยาเขตบางนา”

The statue of King Rama 5, at CL 6^th floor, Bro. Martin’s Collection, Suvarnabhumi Campus

High reliefs on the wall at both campuses, described Thai life style, depicts foreign dignitaries having and audience with the Kings, the Elephant Duel, etc.

In the walls at Gate VI Prasat Assumption are painted in Thai themes. One of the two murals depicts “the Temple of the Emerald Buddha” with its spectacular spires, tiered roofs and pagodas. The other is a painting of “the Royal Barge Suphannahongse” floating in the Chao Phraya River, with the Temple of Dawn in the background.