The Journal of the Siam Society JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 1 9/8/05, 9:39 Patrons of the Siam Society Patron His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Vice-Patrons Her Majesty Queen Sirikit His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Honorary President Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Honorary Vice-President Mom Kobkaew Abhakara na Ayudhya Council of the Siam Society, 2002 - 2004 President Mrs Bilaibhan Sampatisiri Vice-Presidents Prof Krisda Arunvongse Na Ayudhya Mr Athueck Asvanund Mr Paul G. Russell Leader, Natural History Section Dr Weerachai Nanakorn Honorary Secretary Dr Woraphat Arthayukti Honorary Treasurer Mr Kenneth L. White Honorary Librarian Mrs Sharon O’Toole Honorary Editor, JSS Dr Dhiravat na Pombejra Honorary Editor, NHB Dr Warren Y. Brockelman Members of Council Dr Christopher J. Baker M.R. Chakrarot Chitrabongs Mr Patrick Corcoran Mr Gordon Huntly Dr Saranarat Kanjanavanit Mr Harald Link Mrs Mira Kim Prachabarn Mr James Rooney JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 2 9/8/05, 9:39 The Journal of the Siam Society Volume 92 2004 This centenary volume is respectfully dedicated to the memory of H.M. King Mongkut, born 200 years ago. JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 3 9/8/05, 9:39 Editorial Board Dhiravat na Pombejra Euayporn Kerdchouay Kanitha Kasina-ubol Michael Smithies, editor © The Siam Society 2003 ISSN 0857-7099 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Siam Society. The Journal of the Siam Society is a forum for original research and analysis. Opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors. They do not represent the views or policies of the Siam Society. Printed by Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited 65/16 Chaiyapruk Road, Taling Chan; Bangkok 10170, Thailand. Tel. (662) 882-1010 Fax (662) 433-2742, 434-1385 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.amarin.com Cover photograph : H.M. King Mongkut, taken in 1864 when he was sixty. JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 4 9/8/05, 9:39 The Journal of the Siam Society Volume 92 2004 Contents Articles O. FRANKFURTER King Mongkut (first published in JSS vol. 1, 1904, pp. 191-207) Introduced by Tej Bunnag 1 CHARLES HIGHAM The opposed human figure at Khok Phanom Di 15 YONEO ISHII Exploring a new approach to early Thai history 37 PIYADA CHONLAWORN Relations between Ayutthaya and Ryukyu 43 MICHAEL SMITHIES Four unpublished letters from Desfarges, Beauchamp, and Vollant, 65 survivors of the siege of Bangkok in 1688 SUMET JUMSAI Prince Prisdang and the proposal for the first Siamese constitution, 1885 105 YEVGENY D. OSTROVENKO Russian-Thai relations: historical and cultural aspects 117 LEEDOM LEFFERTS Village as stage: Imaginative space and time in rural Northeast Thai lives 129 Note PATRICIA M. YOUNG The lacquer pavilion in the First Reign context 145 Journal of the Siam Society Vol. 92 2004 v JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 5 9/8/05, 9:39 vi Contents Reviews Jean-Pierre Pautreau et al. Ban Wang Hai: Excavations of an Iron-Age Cemetery in Northern Thailand Reviewed by Helen James 155 David Snellgrove Angkor–Before and After: A Cultural History of the Khmers Reviewed by Dawn F. Rooney 158 Claudine Bautze-Picron The Buddhist Murals of Pagan: Timeless vistas of the Cosmos Reviewed by Virginia di Crocco 162 Dirk Van der Cruysse, translated by Michael Smithies Siam and the West, 1500–1700 Reviewed by Reinhard Hohler 166 Father Adriano di St. Tecla, translated and annotated by Olga Dror Opusculum de sectis apus Sinenses et Tunkinenses (A small treatise on the sects among the Chinese and Tonkinese). A study of religion in China and North Vietnam in the eighteenth century. Reviewed by Liam C. Kelley 170 Choi Byung Wook Southern Vietnam under the reign of Minh Mang (1820–1841) : Central policies and local response Reviewed by George Dutton 173 Yos Santasombat Lak Chang: A reconstruction of Tai identity in Daikong Reviewed by Reinhard Hohler 178 Peter Jackson Buddhadasa: Theravada Buddhism and Modernist Reform in Thailand Reviewed by Justin McDaniel 180 Jane Werner and Danièle Bélanger, eds Gender, Household, State: Doi Moi in Viet Nam Reviewed by Liam C. Kelley 184 Journal of the Siam Society Vol. 92 2004 JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 6 9/8/05, 9:39 Contents vii Teri Shaffer Yamada, ed. Virtual Lotus: Modern Fiction of South East Asia Reviewed by David Smyth 187 Ho Anh Thai The Women on the Island Reviewed by Montira Rato 189 Michael Smithies Village Vignettes Reviewed by Tarmo Rajasaari 193 Notes about contributors 195 Honorary Members, 2004 199 Obituaries Ruth Gerson H.S.H. Prince Subhadradis Diskul, a personal appreciation 200 M.S. Larry Sternstein 202 Sulak Sivaraksa Sirichai Narumit–Rekagarn 203 Recent Siam Society Publications 206 Notes for contributors 209 Journal of the Siam Society Vol. 92 2004 JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 7 9/8/05, 9:39 JSS vol92 P(1)-(8) 8 9/8/05, 9:39.