Sophisticated art for royal funeral pyre

A funeral pyre for cremating a deceased royal is decorated with beautifully arranged flowers, carved banana stalks and fruits, and colourful papers as part of the royal paraphernalia. The funeral pyre for the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is more magnificent than anything ever made -- sophisticated handmade art fit for a great monarch.

The funeral pyre in tomorrow's ceremony has been constructed according to the one used in the cremation of King Rama VI. The highly detailed, majestically crafted decoration is the work of 38 royal and local banana-stalk carvers and 323 royal and local floral artists nationwide.

"The Royal Household Bureau's art division is directly responsible for the floral, fruit and banana-stalk-carving work for the royal funeral of King Rama IX," said Bunchai Thongjaroenbourgarm, a royal art expert who is in charge of the work. "Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has allowed craftsmen from the four regions of Thailand to take part in the task. It is a great honour."

Video by Jetjaras Na Ranong and Pichaya Svasti

According to Bunchai, the participating craftsmen for banana-stalk carving include 12 from the Royal Household Bureau, four from Songkhla, one from Maha Sarakham, one from Ubon Ratchathani, four from Bangkok's Wat Apsornsawan and 15 from Phetchaburi. The team strictly follows the royal tradition by adhering to traditional motifs applied to funeral pyres for King Rama V and King Rama VI. The funeral pyre for King Rama IX is larger than ever, at 13.5m high and 3.5m wide. Therefore, all motifs must be grand since a funeral pyre is considered royal paraphernalia.

"Though funeral pyres made from banana stalks can be used by anyone, those for royal funerals must be done according to royal tradition, and special motifs can be applied for royals only," Somkid Khachapong, a banana-stalk-carving artist from Wat Apsornsawan, said proudly. "Such motifs include lai chong lukkaew and lai chong krajok. It is an honour for me to perform this task." (Lai means "pattern" or "motif".)

For some years before 1996, the royal court had lacked banana-stalk-carving artists. In 1996, for the royal funeral of the late Princess Mother, the work had to be done by local craftsmen, including those from Phetchaburi province.

After that, four royal craftsmen studied the art of banana-stalk carving from master Wichian Premchan, who was a student of Phra Khru Thammarat at Wat Rakhang. Since then, more royal craftsmen and also students of the Royal Craftsmen College have studied and perfected their skill for the art.

For centuries, the art of banana-stalk and fruit carving, as well as flower arrangement for funeral pyres has been practised by royal craftsmen under strict principles. Funeral pyres for royals have different details, which vary according to ranking. This royal practice has continued since the Ayutthaya Period.

The creation and decoration of the royal funeral pyre for the royal cremation of King Rama IX. Photos: Jetjaras Na Ranong

Among the evidence are a chronicle written during the reign of Ayutthaya Kingdom's King Prasat Thong and the book titled Kham Hai Kan Khun Luang Hawat which describe the grandeur of royal funerals during the Ayutthaya Period. Further historical evidence on decoration is provided by the chronicle on the royal funeral of King Rama II. However, there were no photos of the decoration until the royal funerals for King Rama V, VI and VIII. A blueprint and drawings by Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs, who was in charge of building the funeral pyre for King Rama VI, give clear pictures of every detail about the decoration.

Like a royal crematorium, a funeral pyre for a king must be the shape of a busabok [tall structure with multi-tiered pointed roof] crowned by a nine-tiered pointed roof. Each of its four corners is decorated with a floral seven-tiered royal umbrella.

Buddhist belief holds that a king is a Bodhisattva who will reincarnate as the future Buddha. Being a king is the opportunity to do good deeds to accumulate merit and charisma to be reborn as Buddha. After death, a king will ascend to heaven. According to the Brahman doctrine, a king is an avatar of the three mighty gods.

The nine-tiered pointed roof of the funeral pyre for King Bhumibol is decorated with floral nets. The edges of the roof are covered with carved banana stalks called yuak radklao.

The glass panels are adorned with gold paper called kradad thongyon and beautifully carved green papaya depicting floral motifs called lai dok pracham yam and dok duang. The corners of the roof are decorated with carved banana peels depicting the krachang thit and krachang choem motifs as well as gold papers. The top of each tier is adorned with floral decoration in the shape of the heavenly Dok Parichart flowers, as described in the Buddhist scripture Traiphum. The body of the royal pyre is adorned with carved banana stalks depicting the klib bua chongkhol son ka lai hachan motif, trimmed with gold paper and decorated with carved green papaya depicting the lai dok chok and lai dok pracham yam. "Outstanding patterns include lai ruan yod and lai lukfak chong krajok for the nine-tiered pointed top," Bunchai said, "The banana-stalk-carving work usually started two days ahead of the royal cremation [to keep the organic materials fresh]. Other interesting tasks are the making of Dok Parichart."

Dok Parichart, sometimes called parijata or the Indian coral tree, is considered a heavenly flower found in the Daowadueng level of heaven, and 16 artificial Parichart will adorn the front part of the body of the funeral pyre. The number 16 signifies the levels of heaven.

Each Parichart is specially designed and created from petals of yellow orchids and purple Globe Amaranth flowers. Yellow is the birthday colour of King Rama IX and the red-pink is an auspicious monarchical colour. The pollens of each flower are made of so many colourful grains and jewelled beetle wings, the innermost made of gems in nine colours from Chanthaburi. The style of pollens was first used for the decoration of the funeral pyre for the previous Supreme Patriarch. Each set of pollens this time is more than 6 inches in diameter. The art combines traditional and contemporary styles.

The Parichart flowers are incorporated from several floral patterns called dokmai wai, dokmai fuang, phu and dokmai eaw. Fresh floral decoration usually started two days ahead of a royal cremation, while dried flowers can be prepared in advance, such as the colour-dyeing of Globe Amaranth flowers.

Many of the flowers used for the work were given by farmers who love King Bhumibol, including white orchids from Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisi district and Globe Amaranth flowers from the Phutthamonthon area.

The lower level of the royal pyre for carrying kalamet firewood is made of carved banana stalk trimmed with gold paper and carved and moulded green papaya. Each of the eight pillars is safeguarded by a statue of the sitting Deva (guardian spirit) holding a sword. The statues were created by a team of royal craftsmen led by royal craftsman Thanongsak Klintham.

The creation of floral nets and curtains from fresh flowers like jasmine and Globe Amaranth flowers for the funeral pyre must be done by well-trained royal palace ladies only according to the royal tradition.

The other work is the carving of green papaya into several tiers of three traditional patterns -- lai pracham yam, lai baithet and lai dokjok -- for decorating the funeral pyre. This kind of art is reserved for funeral pyres of high-ranking royals, from Chao Fah to kings.

Preparation of the floral art started in June, but the final stage was completed from Oct 19-25 at Phratumnuk Suankularb School in the Grand Palace.

On Oct 17, 55 banana trees of the Tanee strain considered auspicious were cut down and brought from orchards in Chanthaburi. On Oct 19, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the religious ceremony to mark the beginning of the artistic work for the royal funeral pyre. The preparation and carving of banana stalks is completed from Oct 22-25 to ensure a fresh look.

Sirilak Panngam, a first-year student of Surat Thani Vocational College, and three classmates are among the volunteers for the floral work for the royal funeral pyre. "I assemble flower petals into small flower models," the southern native said. "I am deeply touched and honoured to have the opportunity to work for the royal funeral of King Rama IX."