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The Significance of Salahoen and Kaikaeo in Lilit Phra Lo1

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The Significance of Salahoen and Kaikaeo in Lilit Phra Lo1 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ordinary wild rooster whose significance SALAHOEN AND KAIKAEO lies in its roles in King Lo’s life and 1 destiny. As this paper reveals, King Lo IN LILIT PHRA LO wants to have the “kaikaeo” to relieve his anxiety and despair after receiving a bad 2 Cholada Ruengruglikit prediction from the guardian of the Kalong River. The belief that a fowl may be used to take away one’s misfortune and Abstract to foretell human fate exists in Thai and other Tai societies. Having unveiled the This paper examines the underlying significance of the flying betel nut and the meanings of salahoen, flying betel nut, and beautiful wild rooster in “the Tale of King kaikaeo, the beautiful wild rooster, in Lo” from a cultural/anthropological “Lilit Phra Lo” or “The Tale of King Lo”. perspective, this study then demonstrates “Salahoen” and “kaikaeo” are usually that King Lo is fully aware of his actions– considered magical items sent by Pu Chao a factor that enables him to be a great Saming Phrai, the Green Mountain tragic hero. Guardian, to aid Princess Phuean and Princess Phaeng in fulfilling their desire Introduction of acquiring King Lo’s love. By using an anthropological approach, this study Different interpretations lead to different suggests that the “salahoen” might be an understandings while studying the same ordinary betel nut. It is a symbol of the object. This paper attempts to present a princesses’ love for King Lo, their new and different interpretation of the invitation and gestures of warm welcome. salahoen, the flying betel nut, and of the As soon as King Lo receives these kaikaeo, the surpassing wild rooster, in messages from the two princesses, whom Lilit Phra Lo ‘The Tale of King Lo’ by he also desires romantically, he decides employing a cultural/anthoropological without any hesitation to leave his city to perspective in order to bring readers to a pursue his love. The custom of sending a better understanding of the hero’s behavior. betel nut as a symbol of love, invitation, and warm welcome as found in this tale is The background of Lilit Phra Lo practiced among Tai people including Thais and various other peoples in Lilit Phra Lo was written in the early Southeast Asian countries. In a similar 3 Ayutthaya period by an anonymous poet. vein, this study also claims that the Lilit Phra Lo is a tragic tale. This “kaikaeo” may be interpreted as an differentiates it from most Thai literary 1 Revised from a paper of the same title presented at the Sixth International Conference 3 Although the word maharat ‘great king’ on Thai Studies held by Chiang Mai appears at the end of the tale in the last chapter University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, of khlong si suphap meter, I believe this is not October 14–17, 1996 a reference to the poet. I suspect this word was 2 Associate Professor, Department of Thai, added at a later date by court secretaries who Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, copied this literary work and mistakenly Bangkok, Thailand assumed one of the Ayutthaya kings composed it. Downloaded from Brill.com09/29/2021 10:57:10PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities Regular 12.1, 2009 tales which usually have happy endings. their princesses, but without success. At Some Thai scholars, myself included, last, Pu Chao Saming Phrai, the Green believe that Lilit Phra Lo was composed Mountain Guardian, accepted this task. He during the reign of King Ramathipbodi II tried several times to make King Lo come (1491–1529) in the early Ayutthaya to meet the two princesses, but his period. This dating is based on the literary attempts were in vain because the royal conventions used, i.e., the versification and magician at King Lo’s court dispelled the language, and on some archeological evidence magic spells. Finally, Pu Chao Saming mentioned in the story. (Sumonnachat 1994: Phrai sent a spirit army to attack the spirit 26–55; Cholada 1995: 26–55). protectors of Song City. After Pu Chao Saming Phrai had learned that his spirit A brief telling of Lilit Phra Lo army had defeated that of Song City, he sent the salahoen, or flying betel nut, to Phra Lo was the king of Suang or Maen King Lo. As soon as King Lo tasted it, he, Suang City at the same time that Phra together with his two close attendants, Phichaiphitsanukon was the king of Song Kaeo and Khwan, and a group of soldiers, City. These two cities were enemies decided to leave his city for that of the because King Lo’s father had led his army princesses, despite his mother’s protests. to invade Song City and killed Phra When he arrived at the Kalong River, Phichaiphitsanukon’s father, who ruled the which marked the boundary between the city at that time. As a result, Phra two kingdoms, he asked the river guardian Phichaiphitsanukon became king. Phra to foretell his destiny and learned of his Phichaiphitsanukon’s stepmother was fatal misfortune. In spite of this determined to take revenge for her foreknowledge, he continued on his journey husband’s death. and entered the frontier areas of Song City. Having waited for the arrival of King King Lo was very handsome. His exquisite Lo for a long time, the two princesses sent good looks were acclaimed and widely their close attendants to Pu Chao Saming praised until news of his beauty reached Phrai to ask him to speed King Lo’s the ears of King Phichaiphitsanukon’s two voyage. Thereupon, the powerful Pu Chao daughters, Princess Phuean and Princess Saming Phrai sent a beautiful wild rooster, Phaeng. They suddenly fell in love with the kaikeao, to further attract King Lo. him and desired him as their lover. They Seeing this rooster, King Lo immediately felt deep sadness because they could not ran after it, pursuing it until he reached the find a way to fulfill their love. As soon as garden of the princesses and waited for their two close attendants, Ruen and Roi, them there. Finally, the two princesses learned of the princesses’ desire, they came to meet him and became his volunteered to help them. They played consorts. Afterwards, King Lo and his two tricks by sending a singer to praise the close attendants, Kaeo and Khwan, beauty of their two princesses to King Lo. secretly followed the two princesses back After listening to this song, King Lo made to their royal residence and lived there. a puzzled gesture to the singer to indicate After half a month, it began to be rumored that he wanted the two princesses to be his that the princesses were hiding a man in loves. Having become aware of this their quarters. When King Phichaiphitsanukon, message, Ruen and Roi asked several the princesses’ father, heard this rumor, powerful magicians to lure King Lo to he came to see for himself. Seeing King 2 Downloaded from Brill.com09/29/2021 10:57:10PM via free access The Significance of Salahoen and Kaikaeo in Lilit Phra Lo Lo’s overwhelming beauty, King salahoen and the kaikaeo as revealed Phichaiphitsanukon acknowledged king through anthropological investigations. Lo’s merit and perseverance. Thus, he revealed himself and accepted King Lo Salahoen as a symbol of love and a as his son-in-law. However, King warm welcome presented to King Lo Phichaiphitsanukon’s stepmother, the princesses’ step-grandmother, held firm to Considering the mountainous scenery and her intention of taking revenge for her other details in the story, Thai readers tend husband’s death. She told the soldiers that to believe that this story took place in King Phichaiphitsanukon’s commanded former times in the Kingdom of Lanna, or them to kill King Lo, who was the enemy northern Thailand. It has been claimed that of Song City. The princesses’ two close King Lo’s city, Suang or Maen Suang attendants, Ruen and Roi, and King Lo’s City, is now Chaehom District in Lampang two close attendants, Kaeo and Khwan, Province. It is also believed that the city of protected the princesses and King Lo until Princess Phuean and Princess Phaeng, all four died. The princesses and King Lo Song City, is now the northern area of continued fighting the soldiers until their Rongkwang District in Phrae Province. royal bodies were pierced by numerous This suggests that these two cities are, in arrows. They died gracefully, leaning fact, cities of Tai people. against one another. Remarkably enough, their deaths ended the enmity between In Tai society, as well as in certain other their two cities. non-Tai Southeast Asian countries, a betel nut is used to express human relationships The significance of the Salahoen and in the following ways. the Kaikaeo in Lilit Phra Lo 1. It is used to express the friendship of The salahoen, or flying betel nut, and the the host. The host customarily brings a kaikaeo, the beautiful wild rooster, in Lilit betel nut tray or betel nut box to greet his Phra Lo play important roles in leading visitors. Failing to do so is a sign of the King Lo to the two princesses. host’s inhospitality (Sathirakoset 1958: 47). As for the guests, chewing the betel Pu Chao Saming Phrai sent the salahoen nut presented by the host signals an to King Lo after his ghost army had acceptance of the friendship offered. unsuccessfully attacked Suang City. After tasting the flying betel nut, King Lo This interpretation is supported by immediately decided to leave his city and evidence from Thai history and literature.
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