Pichaisongkram

[blackdiamondcobra]

This is a nice article on one of the more recent volumes found on the pichaisongkram, which has detailed illustrations. There have been several excellent translations from the old thai verse of the best texts but this one like they said adds the drawings. When I get to thailand, hopefully they will have a copy of this for me to look at.

Its an important document to understanding the thai martial arts and many scholars and war experts have worked on the various translations.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/139642/reliving-days-of-glory

 

[destructautomaton]

has there been any english translations of this text?

 

[blackdiamondcobra]

There is one being compiled now that will be very accessible with alot of detailed explanations. Its a very time consuming process. But the person is doing an excellent job and understands the various versions and their relationships to thai warfare including thai martial arts.

There have been translations and I read at least two writers who were scholars talk about it at length so there is scholarly english language work on it. I have not seen which translations they used to base their works on though.

 

[destructautomaton]

i think there will be much interest in something like that it seems tremendously interesting especially if you like the thai styles.

 

[Fede]

Amazing, thank you very much for the link! I would never have thought I would see such detailed info on the Pichaisongkram.

 

[destructautomaton]

read this today:

The Ayutthaya Era (1350-1767)
During the Ayutthaya period, improvements were made on military organizations with the introduction of more efficient enlistment systems and more effective fighting tactics. For the first time, the military and civilian affairs became two distinct entities, marking the birth of the Military Personnel Department (“Pra Suraswadee”), tasked with armed forces registrations for a more efficient conscription in time of war. Eighteen-year-old able-bodied men were to report for military duty for a period of six months annually.
In wartime, warlords were tasked with mobilizing men under their control to reinforce the Armed Forces. The King, supreme commander of the armed forces, would appoint members of the royal family and trusted noblemen as top generals and commanders of lower echelons in the chain of command.
The “Pichai Songkram” manual, detailing military tactics and steps towards a decisive victory, was first published. The book comprises chapters on army organizations, force deployment, camp-pitching techniques as well as other battlefields maneuvers.

 

[blackdiamondcobra]

spiritual magic was also part of the treatise as shown here

"""""""""""""""Sakyant has been existing before Sukhothai but evidence became visible in the era of King Naresuan the Great because it was a period of losing out the land whereby soldiers and ordinary people tried to find protective talisman to guard themselves, even the King himself who had been clean from the tattoo but existed in the part of Buddhist Supreme Patriarch, called Somdej Prawannarat, at Wat Pah Kaew who took care of checking the auspicious time for sacred rites and rituals in that age, including accommodating the treatise on war strategy fortune (Pichai Songkram), auspices for battling, beating enemy camps/quarters, as well as conducting numerous sacred worships to earn the victory and fortifying the fortune of Pichai Songkram that lasts until today.

Sakyant was evidently revealed during the post era of losing Krungsri Ayudhaya, i.e. Bang Rajan period, whereby the peasants did their best to protect their homeland with the help of Pra-Acharn Dhammachote, from the monastic side. He is a monk who is a giver, sacrifices in every battling with Burma he blessed and granted talisman, ta-grood (a tiny rolled metal amulet inscribed with magic words), amulets to all classes of villagers and most of them also had Sakyant, apply magic oil to be tough and invulnerable. This made the Burmese army leaders surprised how come such a small group of Bang Rajan peasants was brave to fight against the big force of Burma soldiers.

Sakyant in the era of Krung Ratanakosin emerged in the Royal family of Krom Luang Chomporn (note that Krom Luang is Prince of the third class) or known as Sadej Tia. Krom Luang Chomporn was the great student of Luang Pu Sook from Wat Pak Klong Makharmtao. He studied astrology, magic spell, and magic cure/treatment until he became highly skillful and able to cast a spell on things as he wished, such as changing a leaf to become a hornet, changing a human to become a crocodile and also changing the destiny according to the hoary practice.""""""""""""""""""