Rayong

          SoonthonPhu5180.JPG (17615 bytes)
          Sunthorn Phu, the great poet

          SoonthonPhu3180.JPG (25165 bytes)
                   Phra Aphaimanee
                                   SoonthonPhu4275.JPG (30494 bytes) Souvenir shop in the compound of the statue.

(Bangkoksite Digital Photos taken on July 7, 2002)

Sunthorn Phu, the great poet of the Ratanakosin Era,
is well known by Thais and students learn his great
poetry which were written in verses. The statue of
Sunthorn Phu is located in the village of Ban Kram,
the birthplace of his father, in Klaeng District.

Sunthorn Phu showed his poetic talent in his youth.
He was appointed the royal clerk and received the
title of Khun Sunthorn Wohan in the reign of King Rama II.

Later in the reign of King Rama IV he was given the
title of Phra Suntorn Woharn and served the court
until he died in the year 1855 at the age of seventy.

Sunthorn Phu was declared world poet by UNESCO
in 1986 when Thailand celebrated his bicentennial.

Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855) composed his famous
epic poem Phra Aphaimanee on nearby Samet Island.

SoonthonPhu1275.JPG (30202 bytes)

The Statue of Sunthorn Phu

For further information please contact :
Office of the National Culture Commission
Ministry of Education, Bangkok, Thailand.