Thai National Anthem

Phleng Chat Thai
English: Thai National Anthem
เพลงชาติไทย
	Lyrics of the Thai national anthem, published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 10 December 1939
	National anthem of Thailand
Lyrics	Luang Saranupraphan, 1939
Music	Phra Chenduriyang, 1932
Adopted	1932
Readopted	1939 (with current name and lyrics); 1949
Relinquished	1946
Preceded by	Sansoen Phra Barami (as national anthem)
Audio sample
	U.S. Navy Band instrumental version file; help;

The Thai National Anthem (Thai: เพลงชาติไทย, romanized: Phleng chāt Thai [pʰlēːŋ t͡ɕʰâːt̚ tʰāj]) is the title of Thailand's national anthem, which was adopted in its current form on 10 December 1939. It replaced "Sansoen Phra Barami" in 1932, which remains as the royal anthem of Thailand. The melody was composed by Phra Chenduriyang (Peter Feit), and the words were made by Luang Saranupraphan. Phleng chāt (Thai: เพลงชาติ), literally meaning "national anthem", is a general term for a national anthem. The term is also used to refer to this specific song.

Periodization

Historical national anthem
Name	Date	Notes
Sansoen Phra Narai (Thai: สรรเสริญพระนารายณ์) (Glorify the King Narai)	1687–1688	Ayutthaya Kingdom unofficial national anthem in 1946–1949
Chom Rat Chong Charoen (Thai: จอมราชจงเจริญ) (Long Live the Great King)	1852–1871	Siamese Rattanakosin period royal anthem and national anthem, introduced by King Mongkut (used the melody of God Save the King)
Bulan Loi Luean (Thai: บุหลันลอยเลื่อน) (The Floating Moon On the Sky)	1871–1888	which was the royal composition of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II) for use as the new anthem. King Chulalongkorn later ordered Mr.Heutsen, a Dutch bandmaster who served in the Royal Siamese Army, to arrange the song in western style for performing by the military band. According to a research of Sugree Charoensuk, an associate professor from Mahidol University, the melody of this anthem may be the same tune with another anthem named Sansoen Suea Pa (Thai: เพลงสรรเสริญเสือป่า : Tiger Corps Hymn) which was used as the anthem of the Wild Tiger Corps since 1911.^[1]
Sansoen Phra Barami (Thai: สรรเสริญพระบารมี) (Glorify His Prestige)	1888–1932 Royal anthem since 1932	Rattanakosin period national anthem
Maha Chai (Thai: มหาชัย) (Grand Victory)	1895 Provisional National Anthem in 1932	Other members of the royal family and colours party of the unit colour in slow march
Phleng Maha Nimit (Thai: ตระนิมิตร / มหานิมิตร) (Grand Vision)	1934
Phleng Chat Siam Phleng Chat Thai (Thai: เพลงชาติสยาม / เพลงชาติไทย)	1932–1946 1949–present	After Siamese revolution of 1932, the anthem was classified into 2 factions, Phleng Chat Thai was used as national anthem and Sansoen Phra Barami was still used as royal anthem. In 1939 the country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand and the anthem's lyrics was changed from the words Siam to Thai.

Historical background

National anthem before 1932

Before 1932, Sansoen Phra Barami (the Royal Anthem) was used as the national anthem of Siam.

National anthem after 1932

Late-1930s band and vocal recording

Thai national anthem sung between 1934 and 1939 by Miss Pratum including the Khun Wichitmatra lyrics and the Chan Khamvilai lyrics

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The anthem was composed a few days after the revolution of 1932 in the tune vaguely similar to the national anthem of Poland, Poland Is Not Yet Lost, and was first broadcast in July 1932. The original lyrics were by Khun Wichitmatra.

Phleng Chat Siam (Khun Wichitmatra lyrics, 1932–1934)

Khun Wichitmatra lyrics	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
I แผ่นดินสยามนามประเทืองว่าเมืองทอง ไทยเข้าครองตั้งประเทศเขตต์แดนสง่า สืบเผ่าไทยดึกดำบรรพ์โบราณลงมา รวมรักษาสามัคคีทวีไทย บางสมัยศัตรูจู่โจมตี ไทยพลีชีพร่วมรวมรุกไล่ เข้าลุยเลือดหมายมุ่งผดุงผะไท สยามสมัยบุราณรอดตลอดมา II อันดินสยามคือว่าเนื้อของเชื้อไทย น้ำรินไหลคือว่าเลือดของเชื้อข้า เอกราษฎร์คือเจดีย์ที่เราบูชา^{[note 1]} เราจะสามัคคีร่วมมีใจ รักษาชาติประเทศเอกราชจงดี^{[note 2]} ใครย่ำยีเราจะไม่ละให้ เอาเลือดล้างให้สิ้นแผ่นดินของไทย สถาปนาสยามให้เทอดไทยไชโย	I Phǣndin sayām nām prathư̄ang wā mư̄ang thǭng Thai khao khrǭng tang prathēt khēt dǣn sangā Sư̄p phao thai dưkdamban bōrān long mā Rūam raksā sāmakkī tawī thai Bāng samai sattrū čhū čhōmtī Thai phlī chīp rūam rūam ruk lai Kao lui lư̄at māi mung phadung phatai Sayām samai burān rǭt talǭt mā II An din sayām khư̄ wā nư̄a khǭng chư̄a thai Nam rin lai khư̄ wā lư̄at khǭng chư̄a khā Ēkkarāt khư̄ čhēdī thī rao būchā Rao čha sāmakkī ruam mī čhai Raksā chāt prathet ekkarāt čhong dī Khrai yamyī rao čha mai la hai Ao lư̄at lāng hai sin phǣndin khǭng thai Sathāpanā sayām hai thư̄at thai chaiyō	1 [pʰɛ̀ːn.dīn sà.jǎːm nāːm prà.tʰɯ̄ːəŋ wâː mɯ̄ːəŋ tʰɔ̄ːŋ] [tʰāj kʰâw kʰrɔ̄ːŋ tâŋ prà.tʰêːt̚ kʰèːt̚ dɛ̄ːn sà.ŋàː] [sɯ̀ːp̚ pʰàw tʰāj dɯ̀k̚.dām.bān bōː.rāːn lōŋ māː] [rūːəm rák̚.sǎː sǎː.mák̚.kīː tʰá.wīː tʰāj] [bāːŋ sà.mǎj sat̚.trūː t͡ɕùː t͡ɕōːm.tīː] [tʰāj pʰlīː t͡ɕʰîːp̚ rûːəm rūːəm rúk̚ lâj] [kʰâw lūj lɯ̂ːət̚ mǎːj mûŋ pʰà.dūŋ pʰà.tʰāj] [sà.jǎm sà.mǎj bù.rāːn rɔ̂ːt̚ tà.lɔ̀ːt̚ māː] 2 [ʔān dīn sà.jǎːm kʰɯ̄ː wâː nɯ́ːə kʰɔ̌ːŋ t͡ɕʰɯ́ːə tʰāj] [náːm rīn lǎj kʰɯ̄ː wâː nɯ́ːə kʰɔ̌ːŋ t͡ɕʰɯ́ːə kʰâː] [ʔèk̚.kà.râːt̚ kʰɯ̄ː t͡ɕēː.dīː tʰîː rāw būː.t͡ɕʰāː] [rāw t͡ɕàʔ sǎː.mák.kʰīː rûːəm mīː t͡ɕāj] [rák.sǎː t͡ɕʰâːt̚ prà.tʰêːt̚ ʔèk̚.kà.râːt̚ t͡ɕōŋ dīː] [kʰrāj jâm.jīː rāw t͡ɕà mâj láʔ hâj] [ʔāw lɯ̂ət̚ láːŋ hâj sîn pʰɛ̀ːn.dīn kʰɔ̌ːŋ tʰāj] [sà.tʰǎː.pà.nāː sà.jǎːm hâj tʰɤ̂ːt̚ tʰāj t͡ɕāj.jōː]	I Siamese land is renowned as the land of gold. The Thais have conquered this beautiful land. The Thai people have served it ever since the Ancient times. United, we have defended it In some eras, our foes have attacked us. But the Thais sacrificed their lives to save their motherland. With blood, we fought for our sovereignty And hitherto we have kept Siam alive. II This Siamese land is the bulwark of the Thai race Our blood runs through this nation's veins. Independence is like a pagoda we honor^{[note 1]} We will rise and stand as one. To protect our motherland and sovereignty so dear.^{[note 2]} There will be no mercy for those who dishonor it. We shall massacre them until their last. To glorify our great Siamese land, Hurrah!

First national anthem competition (1934)

In 1934, Thai government launched competitions for the official national anthem, for both melody and lyrics. Changwang Tua Phathayakoson (จางวางทั่ว พัทยโกศล) composed a tune in a traditional style called Phleng Maha Nimit, but Phra Chenduriyang's melody was selected because it sounded more modern.

Second national anthem competition

After that, in the competition for the lyrics with Phra Chenduriyang's music, the original words by Khun Wichitmatra took first prize. They were in use until 1939, with a minor edit and an additional version written by second prize winner Chan Khamvilai (ฉันท์ ขำวิไล) adopted in 1934.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Phleng Chat Siam (Chan Khamvilai lyrics, 1934–1939)

Chan Khamvilai lyrics	Romanisation	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
I เหล่าเราทั้งหลายขอน้อมกายถวายชีวิต รักษาสิทธิ์อิสสระณแดนสยาม ที่พ่อแม่สู้ยอมม้วยด้วยพยายาม ปราบเสี้ยนหนามให้พินาศสืบชาติมา แม้ถึงภัยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ^{[note 3]} ยังกู้กลับคงคืนได้ชื่นหน้า ควรแก่นามงามสุดอยุธยา นั้นมิใช่ว่าจะขัดสนหมดคนดี II เหล่าเราทั้งหลายเลือดและเนื้อเชื้อชาติไทย มิให้ใครเข้าเหยียบย่ำขยำขยี้ ประคับประคองป้องสิทธิ์อิสสระเสรี เมื่อภัยมีช่วยกันจนวันตาย จะสิ้นชีพไว้ชื่อให้ลือลั่น ว่าไทยมั่นรักชาติไม่ขาดสาย มีไมตรีดียิ่งทั้งหญิงทั้งชาย สยามมิวายผู้มุ่งหมายเชิดชัยไชโย	I Lao rao thang lāi khǭ nǭm kāi thawāi chīwit Raksā sit itsara na dǣn sayām Thī phǭ mǣ sū yǭm mūai dūai phayayām Prāp sīan nām hai phināt sư̄p chāt mā Mǣ thưng phai thai dǭi chon yǭi yap Yang kū klap khong khưn dai chưn nā Khuan kæ nām ngām sut ayutthayā Nan mi chai wā čha khat son mot khon dī II Lao rao thang lāi lư̄at læ nư̄a chư̄a chāt thai Mi hai khrai khao yīap yam khayam khayī Prakhap prakhǭng pǭng sit itsara sērī Mư̄a phai mī chūai kan čhon wan tāi Čha sin chīp wai chư̄ hai lư̄ lan Wā thai man rak chāt mai khāt sāi Mī maitrī dī ying thang ying chāi Sayām mi wāi phū mung māi chœ̄t chai chaiyō	1 [làw rāw tʰáŋ lǎːj kʰɔ̌ː nɔ́ːm kāːj tʰà.wǎj t͡ɕʰīː.wít̚] [râk̚.sǎː sìt̚ ʔìt̚.sà.ràʔ náʔ dɛ̄ːn sà.jǎːm] [tʰîː pʰɔ̂ː mɛ̂ː sûː jɔ̄ːm múəj dûəj pʰá.jāː.jāːm] [pràːp̚ sîːən.nǎːm hâj pʰí.nâːt̚ sɯ̀ːp̚ t͡ɕʰâːt̚ māː] [mɛ́ː tʰɯ̌ŋ pʰāj tʰāj dɔ̂ːj t͡ɕōn jɔ̂ːj jáp̚] [jāŋ kûː klàp̚ kʰōŋ kʰɯ̄ːn dâj t͡ɕɯ̂ːn nâː] [kʰūːən kɛ̀ː nāːm ŋāːm sùt̚ ʔà.jút̚.tʰá.jaː] [nán míʔ t͡ɕʰáj wâː t͡ɕàʔ kʰàt̚ sǒn mòt̚ kʰōn.dīː] 2 [làw rāw tʰáŋ lǎːj lɯ̂ːət̚ lɛ́ nɯ́ːə t͡ɕʰɯ́ːə t͡ɕhâːt̚ tʰāj] [míʔ hâj kʰrāj kʰâw jìːəp̚ jâm kʰà.jǎm kʰà.jǐː] [prà.kʰáp̚ prà.kʰɔ̄ːŋ pɔ̂ːŋ sìt ʔìt.sà.ràʔ sêː.riː] [mɯ̂ːə pʰāj mīː t͡ɕʰûəj kān t͡ɕōn wān tāːj] [t͡ɕàʔ sîn t͡ɕʰîːp̚ wáj t͡ɕʰɯ̂ː hâj lɯ̄ː lân] [wâː tʰāj mǎn rák̚ t͡ɕʰâːt̚ mâj kʰàt̚ sǎːj] [mīː māj.trīː dīː jîng tʰáŋ jîŋ tʰáŋ t͡ɕʰāːj] [sà.jǎːm míʔ wāːj phûː mûŋ mǎːj t͡ɕʰɤ̂ːt̚ t͡ɕʰāj t͡ɕʰāj.jōː]	I Let us all sacrifice our lives To maintain the rights to freedom the land of Siam That the ancestors tried to fight until their death Eliminate the enemies of Thailand to perish Even though the Thai disaster is inferior But still able to restore the independence back It is an honor to the beautiful Ayutthaya That is not an end to good people. II All of us, we are of Thai blood Doesn't allow anyone to oppress us Protect rights and freedom When disaster helped each other until the day of death If we die, the name will be spread That Thailand is firmly in love with the nation Have great friendship for both men and women The glory of Siam will never be lost, Hurrah!

Thai Cultural Revolution

In 1939, when the name of the country was changed from Siam to Thailand, a competition was launched to create new lyrics, with those by Luang Saranupraphan winning. Thai prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram ordered the anthem to be played every day at 08:00 and 18:00 (8 AM and 6 PM), and ordered the populace to stand up to show respect for the nation. Nowadays, the morning and evening anthems correspond to the hoisting and lowering of the national flags in public areas (e.g. schools, workplaces, public buildings), respectively; hence, the anthem is broadcast by both radio and television channels twice per day from 1980's.

Current lyrics

Original recording of Thai national anthem (current lyrics)

Performed by Thai Fine Art Department Orchestra, recorded in 1939, published by Thailand's Public Relation Department on Rabbit Brand gramophone label.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Thai	Romanisation^[5]	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
ประเทศไทยรวมเลือดเนื้อชาติเชื้อไทย เป็นประชารัฐ ไผทของไทยทุกส่วน อยู่ดำรงคงไว้ได้ทั้งมวล ด้วยไทยล้วนหมาย รักสามัคคี ไทยนี้รักสงบ แต่ถึงรบไม่ขลาด เอกราชจะไม่ให้ใครข่มขี่ สละเลือดทุกหยาดเป็นชาติพลี เถลิงประเทศชาติไทยทวี มีชัย ชโย	Prathēt thai rūam lư̄at nư̄a chāt chư̄a thai Pen prachā raṭ, phathai khǭng thai thuk sūan Yū damrong khǭng wai dāi thang mūan Dūai thai lūan māi, rak samakkhī Thai nī rak sangop, tǣ thư̄ng rop mai khlāt Ēkkarāt cha mai hai khrai khom khī Sala lư̄at thuk yāt pen chāt phalī Thalœ̄ng prathēt chāt thai thawī, mī chai, chayō!	[prà.tʰêːt̚ tʰāj rūːə̯m lɯ̂ːə̯t̚ nɯ́ːə̯ t͡ɕʰâːt̚ t͡ɕʰɯ́ːə̯ tʰāj] [pēn prà.t͡ɕʰāː rát̚ \| pʰà.tʰāj kʰɔ̌ŋ tʰāj tʰúk̚ sùːə̯n] [jùː dām.rōŋ kʰɔ̌ŋ wáj dâːj tʰáŋ mūːə̯n] [dûːə̯j tʰāj lúːə̯n mǎːj \| rák̚ sǎ.mák̚.kʰīː] [tʰāj níː rák̚ sà.ŋòp̚ \| tɛ̀ː tʰɯ̌ŋ róp̚ mâj kʰlàːt̚] [ʔèːk̚.kà.râːt̚ t͡ɕàʔ mâj hâj kʰrāj kʰòm kʰîː] [sà.làʔ lɯ̂ːə̯t̚ tʰúk̚ jàːt̚ pēn t͡ɕʰâːt̚ pʰá.līː] [tʰà.lɤ̌ːŋ prà.tʰêːt̚ t͡ɕʰâːt̚ tʰāj tʰá.wīː \| mīː t͡ɕʰāj \| t͡ɕʰá.jōː ‖]	Thailand unites the flesh and blood of Thais. The land of Thailand belongs to the Thais. Long has been our independence, Because we have been united forever. Thais love peace, but are not cowards in war. Our sovereignty will never be threatened. We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our nation. We are ready to die for freedom, security and prosperity, hurrah!

Current usages

Thai people stand up to show respect for their national anthem.

According to the practice dates from 1939s during the Plaek Phibunsongkhram era and The Flag Act of 1979, Thais must stop what they are doing and stand at attention to pay homage to the anthem played by all Thai media outlets, twice a day, at 08:00 and again at 18:00. Students in school stand in front of the raised flag and sing the national anthem at 08:00 every school day, while those who do not observe the custom by standing in silence during the anthem are subject to a fine of up to 2,000 baht and not more than one year in prison.^[6] At present, there is no longer any compulsion to stand upright and respect the national flag. But most people choose to stand upright and respect the national flag voluntarily.^[7]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c See Help:IPA/Thai and Thai language § Phonology.

^ ^a ^b The original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the lineเอกราษฎร์คือกระดูกที่เราบูชา ("Independence is like the bones we honor") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.
^ ^a ^b The original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the line ยึดอำนาจกุมสิทธิ์อิสสระเสรี ("To take power and hold the rights of independence and freedom") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.
^ This part of the lyric, as officially published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 51, section 0 ง, dated 26 August 1934, was printed as "แม้ถึงไทยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ". This differs from the original handwritten lyrics by Chan Khamvilai, "แม้ถึงภัยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ", leading to a confused meaning. Because of this, the article uses the original lyric as written by Chan Khamvilai instead of the version published in the gazette (See Jeamteerasakul, Somsak. ความเป็นมาของเพลงชาติไทยปัจจุบัน. pp. 45-46)

References

^ Charoensook, Sugree (2016-11-07). "128 ปี เพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี : สรรเสริญพระบารมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทุกพระองค์ โดยสุกรี เจริญสุข". Matichon Online. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
^ Jeamteerasakul, Somsak (December 2004). "ความเป็นมาของเพลงชาติไทยปัจจุบัน". Thammasat University Journal (in Thai). 27 (1). Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
^ "เพลงชาติ". www.banfun.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2007-10-11.
^ History of Thai National anthem from Rakbankerd.com^{[permanent dead link]} (in Thai)
^ https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/thai.pdf The transliteration system used here is a slightly modified version of ALA-LC (which itself is based on RTGS 1939); the differences being that č and ‘ are absent in the transliteration provided below.
^ Svasti, Pichaya (2016-02-15). "Flagging up respect for the nation". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
^ https://www.khaosod.co.th/special-stories/news_5202662. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

[IPA-2] See Help:IPA/Thai and Thai language § Phonology.

[lyrics1-3] The original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the lineเอกราษฎร์คือกระดูกที่เราบูชา ("Independence is like the bones we honor") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.

[lyrics2-4] The original unofficial lyrics by Khun Wichitmatra contain the line ยึดอำนาจกุมสิทธิ์อิสสระเสรี ("To take power and hold the rights of independence and freedom") This was edited prior to the official broadcast on 20 August 1934.

[8] This part of the lyric, as officially published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 51, section 0 ง, dated 26 August 1934, was printed as "แม้ถึงไทยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ". This differs from the original handwritten lyrics by Chan Khamvilai, "แม้ถึงภัยไทยด้อยจนย่อยยับ", leading to a confused meaning. Because of this, the article uses the original lyric as written by Chan Khamvilai instead of the version published in the gazette (See Jeamteerasakul, Somsak. ความเป็นมาของเพลงชาติไทยปัจจุบัน. pp. 45-46)

[1] Charoensook, Sugree (2016-11-07). "128 ปี เพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี : สรรเสริญพระบารมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทุกพระองค์ โดยสุกรี เจริญสุข". Matichon Online. Retrieved 2019-10-12.

[5] Jeamteerasakul, Somsak (December 2004). "ความเป็นมาของเพลงชาติไทยปัจจุบัน". Thammasat University Journal (in Thai). 27 (1). Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-10-17.

[6] "เพลงชาติ". www.banfun.com (in Thai). Archived from the original on 2007-10-11.

[7] History of Thai National anthem from Rakbankerd.com^{[permanent dead link]} (in Thai)

[9] ttps://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/thai.pdf The transliteration system used here is a slightly modified version of ALA-LC (which itself is based on RTGS 1939); the differences being that č and ‘ are absent in the transliteration provided below.

[10] Svasti, Pichaya (2016-02-15). "Flagging up respect for the nation". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 February 2016.

[11] ttps://www.khaosod.co.th/special-stories/news_5202662. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

[1]

[a]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[note 3]

[5]

[6]

[7]