Cremation books bring history to life

Cremation books bring history to life

Since King Rama V's reign thesetomes have chronicled the lives of musicians and prominent people

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Cremation books bring history to life

Cremation books — small publications about the deceased's life given out to guests at funerals — are personal memorials that also serve as historical records. Popular since the time of King Rama V, cremation books have become a valuable chronicle of the age, and though the practice's popularity has waned, the importance of such publications (now enhanced by digital platforms such as DVDs and multimedia) remains strong among scholars and history buffs.

This book, Sam Kok, was published by missionary Dr Samuel Smith for the royal cremation of King Rama IV on March 18, 1869.

At a recent seminar focusing on the historical significance of cremation books for musicians at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Bangkok, a large number of such books were on display, accompanied by insights given by collectors and historians. Some of the books are more than half-a-century old. The value of these books, the prized possessions of a group of collectors, lies far beyond their age, price or beautiful cover.

The book of prayers published for the royal cremation of Queen Sunandha in 1880.

"Cremation books very interesting for telling us about the lives and other details of the deceased and other people related to them. It is impossible for anyone — even the National Library — to collect all of them. We must work together. Some families have kept such collections for generations. In some ways, cremation books are like chronicles which were history books in the past," bibliophile and history author Anake Nawigamune said.

Thailand has upheld the practice of publishing and distributing cremation books since the royal cremation of King Rama IV in 1869, Anake said. Before 2006, people believed the country's first cremation book was the book of prayers for the royal cremation of Queen Sunandha in 1880. However, a group of book collectors found an older cremation book entitled Phra Aphaimanee, published for the royal cremation of King Rama IV on March 18, 1869. A total of 2,400 copies of this book were published by missionary Dr Samuel Smith who owned Bang Kho Laem Publishing House and was also the publisher of Sam Kok and several other Thai books. Normally, only aristocrats, noblemen and the wealthy were able to afford the publication of funeral books.

Cremation books for Thai musicians.

The early part of King Rama V's reign was the dawn of cremation books. The latter part of that reign saw more than 30 of them published. However, most of them are dull because they are books of dhamma and textbooks called Daroon Suksa. The country's first cremation book which is an autobiography is the book of Luang Kasapkijkosol, published by the Royal Library. At that time, Prince Damrong Rajanuphab ordered the library to prepare a number of books for people to use to publish memories. They included books on herbal medicine, music like mahoree and piphat and history. Anake gave some good examples of cremation books. To him, the book for the funeral of famous musician and composer Phra Jenduriyang (Noi Silapi) features the stories of mahoree music as well as the biography and photos of this music guru. It reveals new details about how he and Khru Plaek Prasanduriyasap once formed a band and built musical instruments, including a set of woodwind instruments called piphat and decorated with mother of pearl to celebrate King Rama VI's accession to the throne. Several cremation books do not have the names of the deceased on their covers, such as those of Preecha Boonyakiat and comedian Pen Panyapol.

Other interesting examples are the cremation books of legendary actor Mitr Chaibancha, singer Surapol Sombatcharoen and composer Paiboon Butrkhan which tell about not only the deceased but also other people around them. The cremation books of composer Luan Khwantham and likay performer Hom Huan provide the perspectives of Thai musicians and likay performers respectively. The cremation book of comedian Yanyong Prongnamjai contains the photos of many comedians.

Phra Aphaimanee was also published by missionary Dr Samuel Smith for the cremation of King Rama IV.

Academic and musician Anan Nakkhong, who is a producer of several musicians' cremation books, said the books benefit society as contributions of the deceased to others, as biographies, and as sources of knowledge through references and bibliographies.

Cremation books for musicians contain both full and condensed biographies, obituaries, musical knowledge, old photos, portraits, handwriting, manuscripts and musical notations, particularly traditional Thai music notes, Anan said. In other words, they are comprehensive sources of the history of music.

Current cremation books have colourful covers and beautiful pictures and sometimes include digital audio media. Anan praised the creative design and artwork of cremation books for certain musicians, such as singer and composer Rawat Phutthinan and composer Khet-aran Lertphiphat, for reflecting their personalities.

Anan recalled producing books of memories for several musicians, such as xylophone player and likay guru Boonyong Ketkhong, drummer Manas Khaopluem and Thai xylophone player Lamoon Phuakthongkham. Anan's roles ranged from extracting notes from the musicians' performances to recording interviews and compiling documents, handwriting, photos and videos. These procedures must be done with special care.

Performing Piphat Music is the cremation book of Luang Bamrungjitcharoen and Mrs Supalak Pattharanawik, from 1958.

Nowadays, the collectors of musicians' cremation books have become a network which has expanded to cover collectors of vinyl records, cassette tapes, posters, videos and photos.

Pakorn Nuying, a collector of musicians' cremation books who runs the Facebook fan page Duriyapakorn, said his page shares information about memory books for musicians by publishing book covers, reviews and excerpts of texts and photos from the books aiming to promote the knowledge of traditional Thai music.

He explained that his interest in books of memories for traditional Thai musicians started from his limited access to academic books when he was studying in this field upcountry. After passing the Chulalongkorn University entrance examination in Bangkok, he frequented libraries and found books of memories on music gurus more interesting than textbooks.

"I started to collect such books, mostly by photocopying them, until I went to the house of the late musician Acharn Prasith Thavorn in 2007 to buy some musical instruments and his wife eventually gave me all his books of memories. I returned home with two taxi loads of books and continue to collect such books from Chatuchak, Khlong Thom and Sanam Luang 2 weekend markets, attending funerals and receiving some from music teachers," he recalled.

According to Anan, collecting and exchanging cremation books has become a business since there are many websites and Facebook pages selling cremation books for musicians.

Anake added that in the past, people collected books of memories they received at cremations, but their children sold them after their deaths. Later, those books spread to weekend markets near Saranrom Palace and the statue of the Goddess of the Earth around 1947. He suggested that Thailand build a library of cremation books.

Book seller Thanathas Narawichwiroon, who specialises in cremation and memory books said more than 50% of his customers are the students and acquaintances of musicians who wanted to keep their cremation books in their memory. If the deceased were their music instructors, the buyers would keep the books as expressions of gratitude to their teachers, especially in the traditional Thai music field.

Other customers include writers, researchers and students who are in the process of writing theses. Cremation books are classified as rare books. At every national book fair, more than 20 rare book sellers have booths selling memory books.

"Cremation books have advantages for passing on knowledge and telling the next generation about the deceased's good deeds. Some information would never have been known if it had not been published by the families of the deceased," he noted.

However, Anan concluded that people can compile stories after one's death from cremation books and other media, but should be open to the use of digital media and social networks as well.

"Are cremation books still necessary? Without such books, where would the words of gratitude go?

"Is it time to stop cutting down trees for pulp to print cremation books?" the academic asked at the seminar.

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