Kingdom Album

Home , Fa Ngum, Khene, Lao music, Luang Prabang, Mor lam, Nekkhamma

The Great OathThe Ceremony Great OathThe Ceremony giance and fidelity to the King and to Laotian cons Laotian to and King the to fidelity and giance This set of stamps was issued to commemorate the an the commemorate to issued was stamps of set This Kingdom. the of capital administrative The Kingdom of Laos lent annual great oath ceremony oath great annual lent Laos of Kingdom The statues, each with different position and gesture ( gesture and position different with each statues, The Great OathThe Ceremony Great OathThe Ceremony peaceful and happiness and will will and happiness and peaceful Bud- - Nirvana final of position Luang Prabang. Prabang. Luang Vientiane. Keo, Phra Wat this (Maravixay). Mara on Buddha of Laos, victory the as considered is mudra In achievements. spiritual his for testify to it calls and palm right his with earth the Sitting touches Buddha - Statue Buddha - Bûmisparshamudrâ 16 rebirth. not enlightenment, full reaching meaning state, Nirvana enter and world the away passing fully dha a in Statue Buddha Lying - nha) Say (Laotian: Mahaparinirvana th century, Wat Xieng Thong, Thong, Xieng Wat century, ––– –

181818/ 18 ///Nov NovNov/ Nov ///1953 19531953 1953

floods, quarrel between between quarrel floods, calming or fearlessness Stand- - Abhayamudrâ to calm the ocean. ocean. the calm to intended is mudra cific spe- This etc. relatives represents mudra This – Statue Buddha ing ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Vientiane. Vientiane. 18 concentration. and ing Buddha meditat-of gesture a in Statue - Dhyânamudrâ mudrâ). th titution. The ceremony took place in Wat Ong Tu, Vi Tu, Ong Wat in place took ceremony The titution. century, Wat Phra Keo, Keo, Phra Wat century, nual great oath ceremony. It shows different Laotia different shows It ceremony. oath great nual in which civil servants and dignitaries pronounced dignitaries and servants civil which in

16 relatives. tween be- quarrel calming Buddha – Abhaya- mudrâ represents statue right The Thai- land. Savankhalok, Mahatat, Wat of Mara. on Buddha victory or earth the attesting dha grandeur Bud- – Bûmisparshamudrâ in represents Buddha statue left The th century, Wat Si Saket, Saket, Si Wat century, Vientiane. Vientiane 17-18 Statue rain". the to calling is "Buddha Buddha - fone) hiek (Laotian: Standing th century, Wat Phra Keo, Keo, Phra Wat century, .

entiane, the entiane, their alle- their n Buddha n

Temple in Pakse, Champasak Champasak Pakse, in Temple Prabang Luang Si, Chom That Vientiane Luang, That from each former Laotian Kingdoms: Vientiane, Luang Vientiane, Kingdoms: Laotian former each from brated jubilee of his reign. For this occasion, Lao occasion, this For reign. his of jubilee brated longest-servin the of one became Vong Sisavang King L ruled Vatthana Savang King children. fifty his of o death his after succeeded, was Vong Sisavang King bec he France, from independence full achieved Laos and again Laos over took French the 1946, April In declared Issara Lao the while king, as disposed was refused to cooperate with the Lao Issara, an anti F anti an Issara, Lao the with cooperate to refused of Kingdom to Kingdoms Laotian three these of tion Sainyabu and Champasak (1942) Vientiane and Khouang Prab Luang of king Zakarine, of son was He Prabang. Prabang Luang of king last the Vong, Sisavang King Jubilee King ofJubilee ReignSisavangVong King ofJubilee ReignSisavangVong tectorate within French Indochina. Under his kingdo his Under Indochina. French within tectorate his after father, his succeeded Vong Sisavang King Pa Coloniale, l'École and Saigon Chasseloup-Laubat, Jubilee King ofJubilee ReignSisavangVong King ofJubilee ReignSisavangVong

– ––– – 4 ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ 444/ ///Mar MarMar/ Mar s issued this set of stamps shows three different L different three shows stamps of set this issued s the country independent. independent. country the rench movement that struggle for Laos's independenc Laos's for struggle that movement rench death on March 26, 1904, as king of Luang Prabang, Prabang, Luang of king as 1904, 26, March on death aos until the abolishment of the Laotian Monarchy i Monarchy Laotian the of abolishment the until aos ame the head of state for the Kingdom of Laos. Laos. of Kingdom the for state of head the ame Sisavang Vong was reinstated as king all over entir over all king as reinstated was Vong Sisavang ///1954 ris. ris. Laos under King Sisavang Vong reign. reign. Vong Sisavang King under Laos m, he had united provinces Houaphan (1931), Houakho (1931), Houaphan provinces united had he m, n October 29, 1959, by the regent, Prince Savang Va Savang Prince regent, the by 1959, 29, October n 19541954 1954 and the first king of Laos, was born on July 14, 18 14, July on born was Laos, of king first the and gs monarchs, serving for a period of 55 years. In 1 In years. 55 of period a for serving monarchs, gs Prabang and Champasak. The temples represent the u the represent temples The Champasak. and Prabang ang and queen Thongsy. He acquired his education in education his acquired He Thongsy. queen and ang

li (1946). He was a supporter of French rule in Lao in rule French of supporter a was He (1946). li

aotian temples, onetemples, aotian e Laos. When When Laos. e n 1975. 1975. n e. In 1945, he 1945, In e. 954, he cele- he 954, 85 at Luang at 85 French pro- French tthana, one tthana, ng, Xien- ng, Lycée nifica- s and and s

power, strength and loyalty and admired character t character admired and loyalty and strength power, ruler Ravana, demon dreadful the of sister panakha, jected her courting and offered her his brother Lak brother his her offered and courting her jected One of the great Buddhist epos is the Ramayana. It It Ramayana. the is epos Buddhist great the of One actors play the Ramayana epos. epos. Ramayana the play actors Phr called Epos Ramayana the of version Laotian The key god and monkey's army commander, rescued Sita a Sita rescued commander, army monkey's and god key kid power, enormous his using and cunningly Ravana, Ramayana Ramayana BalletEpos Ramayana BalletEpos Ramayana Ramayana BalletEpos Ramayana BalletEpos

Sita and Rama and Sita

Hanuman ––– –

282828/ 28

///Oct OctOctOct/ ///1955 19551955 1955

Luci and Friend and Luci hroughout the Hindu world. world. Hindu the hroughout shman. The furious Shurpanakha pleaded Ravana to ma to Ravana pleaded Shurpanakha furious The shman. of Lanka (Sri Lanka), fell in love with Rama but h but Rama with love in fell Lanka), (Sri Lanka of

fter a great war. In Buddhist tradition, Hanuman is Hanuman tradition, Buddhist In war. great a fter napped Sita and flew with her to Lanka. Hanuman, th Hanuman, Lanka. to her with flew and Sita napped Ravana a Lak Phra Lam. The stamps depict the Laotian royal Laotian the depict stamps The Lam. Phra Lak a el te detrs f o Rm ad i wf, Sita wife, his and Rama god of adventures the tells

Ninh Lapat Ninh

Rama

a symbol of symbol a e firmly re-firmly e rry Sita. rry Shur-. e mon- e ballet

philosophy of the Theravada says that insight must insight that says Theravada the of philosophy personage of supreme teaching skill and wisdom wisdom and skill teaching supreme of personage precis The age. our of (Samasambuddha) Buddha preme monks receiving alms (offertory). (offertory). alms receiving monks idata atm i rcgie b Bdhss s th as Buddhists by recognized is Gautama spiri Siddhartha Gautama., Siddhartha of Buddhism. of founder the and India from teacher teaching the by enced philoso of body a is It Path*. Eighfold the through its and suffering teach which Truths Noble formulate Four the is This suffering. ease or end to claimed way various offer and suffering human of causes the attemps that life of way or religion, a is Buddhism 14 sta Buddha Laotian former depict stamps The stamps. t released Laos creation, Buddhism the of point the consider which (Mahaparinirvana) Buddha the of vana The Buddhism practiced in Laos is the Theravada. Th Theravada. the is Laos in practiced Buddhism The transcendent. and immortal nomena, present hood, Buddha of principal ultimate eternal, proje as him see to tends and further goes Buddhism M whereas death), physical his after (uncontactable To commemorate the 2500the commemorate To 48 to 563 from lifetime Buddha date historians Most Laotia of spirits ancestral and animist to tied often is and basis the is It Theravada. the of version is Buddhism Laotian The faith. blind by of instead a investigation critical experience, aspirant's the hrvd Bdhs tns o iw i a a super-hum a as Buddhism. him view Mahayana to tends and Buddhism Theravada Theravada in constructed ent – beings god-transcending immortal, transcendental, hu "merely" whether – Buddha supreme a such of ture *The eightfold path is the way to the cessation of of cessation the to way the is path eightfold *The 25002500 2500th Anniversary of Creation of the Buddhism the of Creation of Anniversary 25002500th livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right right mindfulness, right effort, right livelihood, 25002500 25002500 th etr i Wt aaht Svnhlk Taln and Thailand Savankhalok, Mahathat, Wat in century th Anniversary of Creation of the Buddhism the of Creation of Buddhism Anniversary the th of Creation of Anniversary th th Anniversary of Creation of the Buddhism the of Creation of Anniversary th thth th th Anniversary of Anniversary Mahaparinirvana theofBuddha of Anniversary Mahaparinirvana theofBuddha Anniversary of Anniversary Mahaparinirvana theofBuddha of Anniversary Mahaparinirvana theofBuddha th anniversary of the complete Nir-complete the of anniversary

^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ concentration, right understanding and right though right and understanding right concentration, beliefs. beliefs. d reasoning nd phies influ- phies to identify to sufferings. It contains eight parts: right speech, speech, right parts: eight contains It sufferings. in all phe-all in ction of an an of ction come from from come d through through d cessation cessation s that are are that s is differ-is his set of set his culture n a unique a tue fromtue ahayana 3 BCE. BCE. 3 man or man e main main e Su- e ed as as ed na- e tual an an

– ––– – 24

242424/ ///May MayMay/ May ///1956 19561956 1956 t. t. right action, right right action, right

Additional bodies deal with the governance of all o all of governance the with deal bodies Additional issued these stamps depict Garuda, a Mythical bird bird Mythical a Garuda, depict stamps these issued T 1955. 14, December on UN the to admitted was Laos The Economic and Social Council that promotes in promotes that Council Social and Economic The informati studies, provides that Secretariat The in promotes that Council Social and Economic The Justice. of Court International The s and peace with deals that Council Security The asse deliberative main the Assembly, General The primarily: bodies, administrative into divided econo security, international law, international in The United Nations (UN) is an international Organiz international an is (UN) Nations United The products like beer and and beer like products ho (o a) s t ab- rice". sorb "to is eat) (to "Kin- Khao" verb Laotian the of meaning the in so Laos, important so is Rice beverages. alcoholic other other of source a also is Rice fields. rice are areas agricultural total the of rainfall, most where Laos, as such high and cost to labor suited low with countries well is tion cultiva- Rice grains. cereal South-Eastern than more even countries, other in as Laos in crop the main and staple a is Rice Definitive Definitive: 111 DefinitiveDefinitive 1 stst st st Anniversary LaosofAnniversary Admission thetoUN LaosofAnniversary Admission thetoUN Anniversary LaosofAnniversary Admission thetoUN LaosofAnniversary Admission thetoUN : Rice Cultivation : Rice : : Rice Cultivation Rice Cultivation Rice Rice Cultivation Rice – ––– – 22

222222/ Cooking ///Jul JulJulJul/ ///1957

19571957 1957 ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ on and facilities needed by the UN. UN. the by needed facilities and on ecurity. ecurity. mic development, social progress and human rights i rights human and progress social development, mic mbly. mbly. ther UN system agencies such as UNICEF, UNESCO and and UNESCO UNICEF, as such agencies system UN ther from Buddhist mythology, holding the UN emblem. emblem. UN the holding mythology, Buddhist from ternational economic, social and development cooper development and social economic, ternational cooper development and social economic, ternational ––– – ation, founded in 1945, whose aims are to facilitat to are whose aims 1945, in founded ation,

141414/ 14 o commemorate the first anniversary of the admissio the of anniversary first the commemorate o ///Dec DecDec/ Dec ///1956 19561956 1956

Harvesting Polishing

Winnowing ssues. The UN The ssues. ation. ation. ation. e cooperatione n, Laos n, WHO. WHO.

following instruments: So violin, Khouy flute, Row Row flute, Khouy violin, So instruments: following tens to any music related to Mor Lam, and plays the plays and Lam, Mor to related music any to tens pro national the that Laos in important so is Music t music music, Indian of type oldest the to related country where the ancient art music of the Khmer pe Khmer the of music art ancient the where country rela closely is music Laotian of form classical The munity and family events and religious processions. religious and events family and munity an dancers orchestra, its has village each Laos, In tradition the of part important an is Laos in Music veloped more than millennia ago in northern Laos by Laos northern in ago millennia than more veloped Traditional Laotian MusicLaotian Traditional Instruments MusicLaotian Traditional Instruments combination with other musical instruments to accom to instruments musical other with combination player the by into blow then and together, strapped conta It bamboo. of kind special a from made Khene, Traditional Laotian MusicLaotian Traditional Instruments MusicLaotian Traditional Instruments

Khouy Flute

Khong Wong Khong

Bells

252525/ 25 hat has largely disappeared in India itself. itself. India in disappeared largely has hat ted to that of the Siamese. Ethnomusicologists beli Ethnomusicologists Siamese. the of that to ted d Khene players that participate in occasions such such occasions in participate that players Khene d . It can be played solo as in traditional Lao music Lao traditional in as solo played be can It . /Mar ///Mar Khene is likely to be Lao." Lao." be to likely is Khene ea house, stilted a under living person "A is: verb Nat xylophone, Kong Thab drum and Khong Wong bells. Wong Khong and drum Thab Kong xylophone, Nat the Lawa people, the historical predecessors of La of predecessors historical the people, Lawa the The orchestra includes, in addition to Khene, all all Khene, to addition in includes, orchestra The Mar / Mar Mar ople has been best preserved, as well as diverse fo diverse as well as preserved, best been has ople Mar Mar and culture. The most popular music instrument in in instrument music popular most The culture. and pany modern songs. The Khene is a very ancient inst ancient very a is Khene The songs. modern pany ins sets of bamboo and reed pipes of various length various of pipes reed and bamboo of sets ins Khene Khene Pipes Pipes ///1957 19571957 1957

Violin So

Kong Thab Kong Xylophone Row Nat Row

Drum eve that Laos is a is Laos that eve as national, com- national, as (Mor Lam) or in or Lam) (Mor ts sticky rice, lis- rice, sticky ts rm of folk musicfolk of rm o people. people. o or part of the of part or s, which are which s, rument, de- rument, Laos is the is Laos

Buddhism ElementsBuddhism ElementsBuddhism (P Serenity (Bhâvanâ), Meditation (Dâna), offertory Buddhism Theravada the is Laos in religion main The ElementsBuddhism ElementsBuddhism ie b a a Bdhs t a to Buddhist lay a by given ig f n' juny o Nir- to vana. journey one's of ning begin- the and laypeople for dha Bud- the by formulated as tice prac- of path the of elements the to of one is giving Such merit. make opportunity round the laypeople the alms giving as perceived often is daily This food. collect to (pindacara) a on go nuns and monks Theravada Buddhism In society. of normal presence the in humbleness respect and show to and tual spiri- the to connection symbolic a is It nun. or monk Buddhist respect the is almsgiving dhism, Bud- In – (Dâna) Offertory The rm h 16 the from concentration. precedes and rapture by preceded is passaddhi factor, The stamp depicts smiling Buddha Statue Statue Buddha smiling depicts stamp The mental cultivated of part to As enlightenment. path the on consciousness and thoughts speech, body, the of tranquility to refers dhi Passad- Buddhism, In – (Passaddhi) Serenity Vat, Vientiane, Laos. Laos. Vientiane, Vat, ––– –

555/ 5 ///Nov NovNov/ Nov ///1957 19571957 1957

th etr lctd n a Phya Wat in located century ry Bdh oecm hs eos fe wih e at he which eliminati power pure the symbolizes water The ment. after demons, his overcame Buddha army. brai hair her from water squeezed appeared, Thorani Mara's the by tempted was he but enlightenment, ing to not vowed and tree Bodhi a under down sat Buddha Ac earth. of mother Thorani, Nang depicts stamp The thoughts. pure developing and thoughts evil the serves which (samma-sankappa) Thoughts" "Right Renunci possessiveness. and selfishness attachment, selfl of virtue the or pleasures worldly of ciation r Nekkhamma Buddhism, In – (Nekkhamma) Renunciation

fied through the millennia of teacher student teacher of millennia the through fied transmissions. transmissions. diversi- and proliferated have and texts dhist Bud- ancient in preserved are techniques tion medita- Core insight. and tranquility tration, meditation of concen-mindfulness, develop that techniques variety a encompasses tion medita- Buddhist – (Bhâvanâ) Meditation essness, which is opposed to to opposed is which essness, ng the evil. evil. the ng d and drowned Mara's Mara's drowned and d purpose of eliminating of purpose ation is one of three three of one is ation cording to a legend, legend, a to cording (devil) army. Nang Nang army. (devil) get up until attain- until up get and enlighten- tained efers to renun- to efers uddhism: The The uddhism:

graver of this set, Jean Pheulpin, for excellent gr excellent for Pheulpin, Jean set, this of graver prominently in Laotian mythological legends and als and legends mythological Laotian in prominently Xang" meaning "Land of million elephants". The Asia The elephants". million of "Land meaning Xang" Asian Elephant Asian Elephant Asian genus Elephas. The species found primarily in large in primarily found species The Elephas. genus 1 in art philatelic French best for prize first The an ceremonies traditional Laotian many in part cant to keep a rare albino elephants because their sacre their because elephants albino rare a keep to three former Laotian kingdoms: Vientiane, Luang-Pra Vientiane, kingdoms: Laotian former three e headed three the was emblem kingdom Lao The tion. Laos populated in the past by herds of elephants li elephants of herds by past the in populated Laos and Attapeu. In total number of work elephants, Lao elephants, work of number total In Attapeu. and found agriculture, and logging for used elephants, pl Nakai in and province Sainyabuli in mainly Laos, tries including Laos. It is thought that 200-500 wi 200-500 that thought is It Laos. including tries the of one is maximus) (Elephas Elephant Asian The Asian Elephant Asian Elephant Asian – ––– – 17 171717/ ///Mar MarMar/ Mar ///1958 19581958 1958

^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ Éy_tÉá ^|ÇzwÉÅ avure work of one of the stamps from this set. set. this from stamps the of one of work avure 958 (Grand prix de l'Art Philatélique Français) was Français) Philatélique l'Art de prix (Grand 958 d power and as representatives of war god. The elep The god. war of representatives as and power d parts of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and South-Ea and Lanka Sri India, Bangladesh, of parts ving wild in the forest. Hence, the older name of L of name older the Hence, forest. the in wild ving d processions. processions. d around the country mainly in Sainyabuli, Udomxai, C Udomxai, Sainyabuli, in mainly country the around o is an important character in Buddhism. Elephants Elephants Buddhism. in character important an is o n elephant has a prominent role in the Laotian cult Laotian the in role prominent a has elephant n three living species of elephant, and the only livi only the and elephant, of species living three ld Asiatic elephants roam open-canopy forest areas areas forest open-canopy roam elephants Asiatic ld s ranks forth in Asia after Myanmar, Thailand and I and Thailand Myanmar, after Asia in forth ranks s bang and Champasak. Laotian kings, since king Fa Ng Fa king since kings, Laotian Champasak. and bang ateau in central eastern Laos. Around thousand dome thousand Around Laos. eastern central in ateau lephant (god Erawan) that represents the unificatio the represents that Erawan) (god lephant

given to the en-the to given ng species of the the of species ng hant featuring hant aos was "Lane was aos ure and tradi- and ure st Asia coun- Asia st take signifi-take ndia. ndia. throughout hampasak hampasak um, used um, n of the of n sticated