| Thai: เพลงชาติไทย | |
| English Title: | Thai National Anthem |
| Prefix: | National |
| Country: | Thailand |
| Author: | Luang Saranupraphan |
| Lyrics Date: | 1939 |
| Composer: | Phra Chenduriyang |
| Music Date: | 1932 |
| Predecessor: | Sansoen Phra Barami (as national anthem) |
| Adopted: | 1932 |
| Readopted: | 1939 (with current name and lyrics) 1949 |
| Until: | 1946 |
| Sound: | Thai National Anthem - US Navy Band.ogg |
| Sound Title: | U.S. Navy Band instrumental version |
The Thai National Anthem (Thai: เพลงชาติไทย|translit=Phleng chāt Thai in Thai pronounced as /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.
| 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. |
Before 1932, Sansoen Phra Barami (the Royal Anthem) was used as the national anthem of Siam.
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.
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.
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]
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.
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]