When Sukhothai Dynasty (1257 ~ 1377) was established, Buddhism and Brahmanism had spread in this area. Scriptures recited in various sacrificial ceremonies and praises of the king's benevolent government and Buddhist achievements are engraved on stone tablets. These Sukhothai inscriptions are the earliest historical and literary works in Thailand discovered so far. One of the most famous is Lan Ganheng's inscription. The most representative religious literature work in Sukhothai period is the Three Realms Classic compiled by Wang Litai V (in the reign of 1354 ~ 1376) based on 30 Buddhist scriptures. He described the sensual world, the erotic world and the achromatic world in his beautiful prose, promoted Buddhist thought, and emphasized that all beings should abandon evil deeds and good deeds and avoid suffering from the reincarnation of the "three realms". The Three Realms Classic is widely circulated, which has a far-reaching impact on the formation of Buddhist views in Thai society and the development of Thai literature.
During the 4 17 years when Ayutthaya Dynasty (1350 ~ 1767) ruled Thailand, Thailand gradually formed a relatively complete feudal system. It inherited the literary heritage of Sukhothai period, and absorbed the ancient culture of Khmer Empire and the ancient Indian culture brought by Brahman monks. At one time, it showed a prosperous scene, and the literary form also developed, and there appeared poems with strict meter, namely Sino-Japanese Poetry, Cologne Poetry and Zen Poetry. However, during this period, Thailand was conquered by the Burmese army twice. During the second fall of the capital city of Ayutthaya (1767), the literary heritage was seriously damaged.
During the Sukhothai period, the king was very jealous of the ruling system and language of the Khmer Empire and advocated the use of pure Thai. In order to establish and consolidate his supreme authority, King Dacheng adopted some traditional systems and etiquette of Khmer monarchs. Ramadi Patti I (reigned from 1350 to 1369) instructed the Brahmin priest to write a water mantra, which was the first literary work of Fu (legislation) in Thailand. The main content of Water Curse is to praise Ramadi Patti I and promote the idea of loyalty to the monarch. The original is written in Khmer with some Sanskrit. The water curse and oath ceremony played an important role in consolidating the autocratic monarchy system, which was used by successive dynasties for more than 600 years and was not abolished until 1932 after the bourgeois reform coup.
Religious literature developed further in the early days of Ayutthaya, and there appeared "Fu on Da Shi" (Mahacha Kanyu) and "Ci on Da Shi" (Jiawu Mahacha). These two works are adapted from Pali original translation, and both tell the story of Sakyamuni's last reincarnation before. Palace literature with the main content of praising the king's benevolent policies and great achievements also appeared, such as Ruan Bai Fu written by Ramadi Patty II and Ode to Nalai the Great written by Pasima Huoshu.
The creation of folk oral poetry made outstanding achievements in the middle period of Ayutthaya, during which a long narrative poem Kunchang and Kunping was produced, which is a masterpiece of folk literature and occupies an important position in the history of Thai literature. At that time, a group of famous poets gathered in the court, including Szybala. Famous literary works include Zindamani, Thailand's first textbook; Paro Fu, a long poem about love stories; Tawato; Ramayana (Bie Da) rewritten in Zen style; and historical themes. The drama that appeared in this period was called "Luo Kun", all of which were played by actors, and later it was called "Luo Kunnuo" (an out-of-court play).
In the later period of Dacheng Dynasty, "meter" (eight poems) became very popular, especially drama and duet. In the form of creation, a new kind of fu has appeared, which is called "Jiapu, Carving Dragons". The famous poet in this period was Prince Tammatiebe. His works include A Passage to copper river, Farewell to Sorrow, Rocking the Boat, Joyful Sutra, Ma Laifu and so on. The latter two works are translated and adapted from the original Sanskrit in the form of poems.
As far as drama is concerned, the drama outside the palace in Nalai period has evolved into the drama "Luo Kun Nai" in the palace, all of which are played by actresses and only performed in the palace. There are many plays, such as Rama Jane, Gallagher, Kavi, Jayatta and Manola.
King Tombury, who swallowed the Wu Dynasty (1767 ~ 1782), devoted himself to pacifying civil strife and resisting foreign invasion, and at the same time set about sorting out Thai documents and personally wrote the fragments of Rama Sword. The important works in this period include Fu to the Crown Pearl, Inau, Cargill, Song of King Wu Li, Sisters of Grissana and so on. In addition, there is a book A Passage to China, which records the fact that the king sent envoys to visit China in 177 1 year in the form of poems.
1782 After the establishment of Singh Dynasty (Bangkok Dynasty) in Radana, it continued to collect the lost literary works of Ayutthaya period, and completed the compilation and supplement of Kawei, Sangtong, Master House, Kun Chang and Khun Ping.
Thai classical literature flourished again during the first to third dynasties in Bangkok. Although most of the works are based on the stories of Ayutthaya period, the forms are diverse and the language is more beautiful and vivid. Prose has also become popular. One of the famous writers is Zhaopiye Pakan, who transplanted The Romance of the Three Kingdoms from China, and created the style of "The Three Kingdoms", which had a great influence on Thai literature, especially novel creation. The famous poets in this period are Shun Tunpu, Prince Manu VII of Papola and Pama Hammond. The latter is a creative poet who wrote the famous poetic drama La Dunlande with witty irony.
The four to six kings of Bangkok dynasty were all poets and writers, among which the fifth king Pazunla Gaozong and the sixth king Pamon Gogu were the most prominent. Other famous poets and works include Zabangui, Pashutun written in Zen style, Kunsuwang, a poetess, and her burlesque Pamalai Tietai and A Hundred Stories of Unaru, Pamela's Touching Thailand, Travels in London and Prose, Thai Ambassador to Britain and Paro. Famous writers in this period include Prince Long Dan, Nomo Sol, Piennes Man Lacha Dunn, Pasala Bassa and so on.
During the 4th to 6th Bangkok dynasty (1850 ~ 1925), Thailand's neighboring countries became colonies of western powers, and Thailand was in the position of buffer state, so it was forced to carry out "crevice diplomacy". In literature, learning from the West has been advocated since King IV. By King VI, western culture had a greater influence and classical literature began to decline.
Thailand's new literature rose in the late 1920s. At that time, an unprecedented economic crisis occurred in the capitalist world, and Thailand was also seriously affected. The economy is depressed and the people are poor. 1932 finally broke out a bourgeois reform coup, and Thailand has since become a constitutional monarchy. With the spread of bourgeois democratic ideas, the popularization of education, the increase of newspapers and periodicals, and the dispatch of overseas students, especially the translation and introduction of western bourgeois literature, great changes have taken place in the content, form and creative methods of Thai literature, and new literature has quickly occupied a dominant position and penetrated into the people. The authors of new literature are mostly intellectuals from the common people, who hate feudal dignitaries as their agents and have bourgeois democratic ideas. Their works all try to express this idea, and they have certain national characteristics in characterization and theme selection. Famous writers in the founding period of new literature include Sriburabha, Malai Chupini, Akadangeng, Domaso, Suo Gulamaloch, etc.
Sriburabha is one of the founders of new literature. During this period, his novels Surrender (1928), Man (1928) and Battle of Life (1932) all had great influence. Surrender describes a young man who wins the love of a young girl through many twists and turns, and shows the author's desire for change and his idea of freedom of marriage. Men is about the ideals, sentiments and love entanglements of several young men and women. The War of Life lashed out at the darkness of society through the story of a pair of lovers who finally broke up in a difficult situation, and showed the author's humanitarian thought.
Three novels, Life-long Companion, Silent Beauty and Nora's Heart, written by Malai Ciupini (1906 ~ 1963) are all stories about women's struggle against feudal forces for love, freedom and happiness, which are all popular because they are in tune with the thoughts of young people at that time. Later, many writers followed suit.
The novel Drama of Life (1929) by Prince Akatangen (1905 ~ 1932) and his sister novel Yellow Man and White Man (1930) are the first novels written by Thais living abroad. The former means that life, happiness and pain are impermanent. The latter tells people that it is difficult for yellow people and white people to understand each other. These two works are novel in plot and describe reality, which has aroused widespread interest.
De Meso began to create works with the theme of family life. Most of her novels describe the inner activities of the characters, Thai customs, family and love. With exquisite technique, rich philosophy and high literary value, it is appreciated by people.
1932 Thailand's new literature before and after the bourgeois reform coup was still in its infancy and was called "golden age" by Thai critics, but there were not many works with mature ideological and artistic qualities. From the 1930s to the Second World War, Sriburabha's novel The Back of the Painting (1937), Gao Sulang's The Prostitute (1937), Mana Zhanrong's short stories, Jacques's Hero on Earth and Maimengton's General Winning.
After World War II, Thailand's progressive forces became more active, and the spread of scientific socialism promoted the development of literature. Progressive writers put forward the slogan of "art for life" to oppose the concept of "art for art's sake". They use realistic creative methods to describe society, expose darkness and point out the direction. Sriburabha's novella Goodbye (1950), the novel Looking Forward (1955), the novel The Devil (1957), and Isara Amanda.
In addition, to whom do Ba Maw's historical novel "Four Dynasties" (1953) and Sershataba Nava's novels belong? (1958) The Freedom Army of China (1950), a novel by Suo Gulamarohe, has different tendencies, but it has a great influence on society.
During this period, the translation and introduction of foreign literary works have also made great progress. Many western classical literary masterpieces and revolutionary literary works of the Soviet Union and China have been translated into Thai.
The progressive literature in Thailand suffered two major blows at 1952 and 1958. In the 1960s, the literary world was quite silent, with a flood of romance novels and few valuable works. From 1958 to 1967, Thai critics call this year 10 a "dark period" in culture.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the creation of two female writers attracted people's attention. The novel Man's Ship (1931~) by Geshana Asushin tells the story of a poor girl who went astray in a corrupt society. Sunset (1972) is about a civil servant who tries to get ahead, but finally fails. (193 1 ~) wrote in his novel His name is Gan (197 1) that a doctor volunteered to go to a poor country to treat the poor, but he was killed. These three novels truly describe the social reality and raise issues that people care about. They also have high artistic achievements and great influence, and won the southeast asia treaty organization Prize for Literature respectively.
From 65438 to 0973, the October 14th Movement broke out in Thailand, which promoted literature. A group of young writers appeared around the October 14th Movement, and they were very active. They are dissatisfied with the status quo, eager for change and sympathetic to the working people. At this time, the number of works describing people's resistance and struggle increased, which reflected the reality more profoundly. The novel The Son of the Northeastern (1978) by Kampen Wentawei won the ASEAN Literature Prize 1979. The novel describes the story of a progressive young man in northeast Thailand who is dissatisfied with the social reality and determined to change the poverty and backwardness in the northeast and work hard. In addition, famous works include La Pippen's One Country (1977) and the rural teacher by the young writer Kang Mankun Kay (1976). Among the poets, Nauvarut Phongphaiboon (1940 ~), Vitayegon Changgong (1946 ~) and Angkang Ganlayanapeng (1926 ~) are famous.