MAHA THEERA RACHOBAI FOSTERING PATRIOTISM THROUGH THE ROYAL WRITINGS OF KING VAJIRAVUDH (RAMA VI)

Abstract

This article examines both prose and verse royal compositions of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) as a “Mahathirraj-policy,” a cultural strategy designed to instill patriotism and strengthen Siam’s national identity during its transition to a modern nation-state. Through textual and historical analysis of key works such as Khlon Tit Lor (Mud Sticking to the Wheel), Lathi Ao Yang (The Imitation Mania), Siam Anusati, Phra Ruang, Thai Ruam Kamlang, Thai Samakkhi, The Merchant of Venice (adapted as Venisawanit), and Viwah Phra Samut, the study demonstrates how King Vajiravudh transformed “letters” into a cultural apparatus that functioned as emotional discipline and everyday ritual. Poetry, songs, and plays became “bridges” linking ideology with lived practice. Three core lessons emerge: 1) clearly defining threats and social problems, 2) proposing practicable civic ideals is unity, discipline, sacrifice, and 3) institutionalizing cultural spaces for reiterating shared meanings. These royal writings were not merely aesthetic expressions but cultural strategies embedding the values of “Nation, Religion, and Monarchy” deeply into public consciousness. The study concludes that King Vajiravudh’s literary endeavors exemplify his vision as the “Mahathirraj,” a monarch-scholar who used literature as a cultural apparatus to secure national cohesion and resilience, remaining highly relevant today.