Palm-Leaf Manuscripts of Thailand

Palm leaf manuscripts are an ancient document form that comprises a significant documentary heritage of the Isan people of Northeastern Thailand. These materials contain a vast amount of knowledge that can be classified into eight categories: Buddhism, tradition and beliefs, customary law, economics, traditional medicine, science, liberal arts, and history. Seventy percent of the content recorded in these palm leaf manuscripts consist of Buddhist stories and doctrine; the other 30% record local wisdom in the form of folktales, diaries, poems, ethics, customary law, rites and rituals.

Northeastern Thai palm leaf manuscripts vary in size. A standard palm leaf manuscript is generally 5-6 cm. in width and 50-60 cm. in length with 48 pages (24 leaves written on both sides). Palm leaf manuscripts can be as short as 15 cm. or as long as 80 cm. and can vary as to the number of pages. The people of Isan used the various sizes in different ways: the longer palm leaf manuscripts are used as textbooks to record Buddhist stories and doctrine, while the shorter ones are used as notebooks to record local wisdom related to daily life. The languages used on the palm leaf manuscripts are either local or undergoing shift (Pali, ThaiIsan, Pali-ThaiIsan, Old Thai, and Khmer); in addition, manuscripts are written in four archaic orthographies (ThamIsan, ThaiNoi, Khmer, and Old Thai). Because the length of a palm leaf manuscript is determined by its physical dimensions rather than its content, a single manuscript may record many stories, or a single story may require more than one manuscript. Furthermore, one palm leaf manuscript may be inscribed in various scripts and languages. A one-story palm leaf manuscript might also be inscribed in many literary styles according to the manner in which the inscribers express the story (e.g. outstanding, fine, ordinary, etc.). The oldest palm leaf manuscript available at Khon Kaen University was inscribed in 1794 AD.

In order to preserve both knowledge and the manuscripts themselves, this project is exploring the most suitable method to digitize and organize the palm leaf manuscripts. In providing access to the collection through the web, it also promotes understanding of Isan culture. The Khon Kaen University Palm Leaf Digitization Project is a partnership between The Center for Research on Plurality in the Mekong Region (CERP), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Office of Culture, Khon Kaen University. This has been an ongoing project since 2004 with funding partly provided by the Southeast Asian Digital Library Project based at Northern Illinois University Libraries.

KhunThung (Fasicle Number 1)
Summary: Khun Thueng is a king of Chiang-Nguem city, has a queen name Budsadee. While he was traveling by himself in the forest for two months he fell in love with the great naga.s daughter. He levied with her in naga city for two years. Before he left the naga.s daugther to get back his own city; she gave him their son, named Khun Thung. However, his wife, queen Budsadee, did not like his son. So, Khun Thueng brought his son to the forest and asked the angle look after his son. One year later the brought his son back. When Khun Thung grew up, he would like to see his mother, so he asked his father to visit his naga mother. After stay with mother and grandparents for long time, he would like to get back to Chiang-Nguem city. Before he left the naga city, his grandfather gave him three magical stuffs; coppered pot, sword, and scythe. He asked his mother how to use these magical stuffs. She said, he could wished for everything from the coppered pot, the sword used as a weapon, and the scythe he need to drag on the ground and keep walking until the scythe hooked something. When he reached the large river the scythe was stuck. He decided to stay a night on the river bank. When he got up in the morning, he found this area was changed to be a big city. He named this city Sri-sut-ta-na-kha-na-hut. Then, he knocked on the coppered pot and prayed he got two beautiful ladies from the pot. He married them to be his queens. He succeeded to the throne for a while. Again he would like to travel in the forest. On the fifteen day he reached the Himmaparn forest.the magical place. He met the gibbon, she disguised as a beautiful lady. He fell in love with her, and stayed together for three years. They had a son, named Um-kha. Later, Khun Thung went back to Sri-sut-ta-na-kha-na-hut city with his so. And he promised that he will be back to brought his gibbon wife to stay together in the city. However, he never did it., No. of Pages: 52; No. of Fasicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Munkutjai: Tattit (Phuk 5), Nam (Phuk 5)
No. of Pages: 102; No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Missing some pages, This palm leaf is a Pali language text book: Nouns, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Prathom Somphot (A9)
No. of Pages: 464 No. of Fascicles: 18 Script: Tham Isan, The life of the Lord Buddha; science the Buddha was born, enlighten, and nirvana -- final release from the round of rebirth., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Sut Mon
No. of Pages: 80 No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Lost some pages., This palm leaf is about a prayer in Pali language., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Bot Sutkhwan
No. of Pages: 50 No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Lost some pages., This palm leaf is about a ceremony to bring in luck to people who participate., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
NamgTang-Orn (Fasicle no 3)
Summary: At Nakhonkhiri city, there was a king name Phrayakosri and the queen name Thongdang. They have a son name Thao Mahawong who was very infatuated with cockfighting. One day, he went to a forest with four noblemans to find a new fighting cock. He met a daughter of the great crocodile name Nag Thang-Orn who has a body like human. He married her to be his wife. Later on, Nang Thang-Orn gave birth to baby boy. That time Thoa Mahawong went to the forest to find an elephant. Because of the jealousy of other wives of Thao Mahawong, they alternated the prince with baby crocodile and floated the prince on the river. The angel brought him to look after in haven and named him Suriyong. Back to Thqo Mahawong, when he knew that Nag Thang-Orn gave birth to a baby crocodile he was very angry and droved her out of the city. She went back to her city to stay with her brother, King Khumpha who stayed on the throne after their father. King Khumpha felt pity for his sister. He decided to give the throne to other brother. Then he brought his sister left the city to practice martial art and incantation from the hermit in the forest. He intended to revenge his brother-in-law for his sister. For prince Suriyong, when he grew up he learned and practiced many subjects, and came back to help his mother. He married four ladies Nang Prathumma, Nang Inthawong, Nang Yardkham, and Nang Khamlai. Later, he was a king of Nakhonkhiri city., No. of Pages: 239; No. of Fasicles: 5 Script: Tham Isan, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
BuaHom BuaHong BuaHiaw
Summary: It is a story of the triplets' princes. Thao BuaHom (Hom mean the first in Isan Language), Thao BuaHong (Hong mean the second), and Thao BuaHiaw (Hiaw mean the last) were the son of the King of the town name Champa. When they were born as the triplets the king was scared that it would be some calamities happen in his town. Fortunately, the astrologer told him that the new born princes were the acquired the charisma. However, the three princes must be separated from King.s town according to their kamma in previous life. That made the king protected his son very well from the harmful. One day, the three young princes break his farther rules, the king was very angry and commanded to kill them. However, the queen asked for their life. The princes were very grateful; therefore they went in to the monkhood as a novice in order to make merit to their beloved mother. After left the Buddhist monkhood, the princes went into the forest. In the forest they met the giantess, she came in disguise as a human and adopted the princes and tough them the magic. Later, the princes found that she was a giantess, and decided to runaway from her. When the giantess realized that the princes wanted to leave her, she followed them and gave them the magic weapons. The three princes came in disguise as the beautiful birds to take an adventure travel. One day in the big town, while they were sitting on the tree, Princess Kusachada was walked by the tree. She saw the beautiful birds and would like to get the birds. Thoa BuaHom was catch. By accident, the princess found that the bird was a prince charming. Then they fell in love with each other and have clandestine sexual relations. When the king known when happen to his daughter he was very angry, but when he known the truth, the bird was a prince. He let them married and left they succeed to the throne. Thao BuaHom brought his brothers to leave with him. Later, Thoa BuaHong, and Thao BuaHiaw would like to take an adventure again. At Takkasila, another big town, there was a beautiful Princes, Srihapathumnat. In order to fine her the appropriate husband, the king commanded to build a magic trap at the castle door. If the one can get in to the castle, he would have married the princess. Thao BuaHong did it; therefore he was allowed to married the princess and succeeded to the throne. Thoa BuaHiaw would like to found his sole mate, so he left the town. At Panja city, the King named Phraya Ek. He had a beautiful daughter, Princess SriKhrai. However, she did not like the guy. She would be giddy if she smells the guy. The king was very worried about her manner. But when she met Thao BuaHiaw she could speak with him without any giddy. When the king known, he arranged the marriage for them and let them reign over the throne., No. of Pages: 270 No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Lost some pages, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Prathom Somphot (A14)
No. of Pages: 464 No. of Fascicles: 18 Script: Tham Isan, The life of the Lord Buddha; science the Buddha was born, enlighten, and nirvana -- final release from the round of rebirth., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Pha Daeng
Summary: Phadaeng Nang Ai is a tragic love triangle story of King Phadaeng, Princess Aikham, and the Naga Prince, Phangkhi. The story tells of Princess Aikham, the daughter of King Ek-Thita and Queen Sida of the ancient Khmer Empire. She fell in love with King Phadaeng of Phaphong city. Their secret love was never recognized, as King Phadaeng failed to win the rocket contest in Bun Bangfai, the rocket festival organized by the Khmer king. At the same time, the Naga Prince Phangkhi was deeply in love with Princess Aikham without her knowledge. During the rocket festival, he came in disguise as a young man to take a glimpse at her beauty. Later, he came in disguise as a white squirrel wearing a bell to attract her attention. Seeing the squirrel, Aikham wished to have it as her pet, but she ordered the court hunter to shoot it for her with a poisoned arrow. The squirrel died, but he made a wish that his meat be deliciously aromatic and plentiful for all to enjoy. So, Aikham shared the meat of the squirrel with everyone in her city, save for the widows as they had no husbands to work for the king's army. When the Naga King Suttho received the news of his son being killed by the Khmer hunter, he led the naga army to kill everyone in the Khmer kingdom, particularly those who had eaten the squirrel meat. For those who did not eat the meat, the Naga King left them alone. Phadaeng heard about this disaster and came to rescue his lover, Princess Aikham, but in vain. The Naga King threw his tail to wrap the princess and pull her down to live in the Badan, the naga city. Phadaeng ended his life. He became the ghost king and organized a ghost army to fight for Aikham in Badan. The battle went on and on until Indra came to stop the fight and told everyone involved waiting for the next Buddha, Phra Si-aan, to judge as to whom Princess Aikham belonged. (Translated by Wajuppa Tossa), No. of Pages: 239; No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Complete, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Prathom Somphot (A18)
No. of Pages: 464 No. of Fascicles: 18 Script: Tham Isan, The life of the Lord Buddha; science the Buddha was born, enlighten, and nirvana -- final release from the round of rebirth., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Nok-Kra-Jork (Little Sparrows)
Summary: The story tells about the sparrow couple living in the hermit.s beard. One day, while the father bird was seeking for food to feed his family, he was shut in the lotus and couldn.t go back home. Next morning, the couple had a big fight. The husband swears that if he was unfaithful, he would be has a sin as the hermit. When the hermit heard that, he was very angry. And asked why he has a sin. The father bird said because you couldn.t have a child, after you die you would be in hell. Then, the hermit expelled the sparrows from his beard. And he himself left the hermit hood, and made a family like other people. The sparrow.s family moved to the forest. One day, there was a wildfire, the couple made a promise they would not leave each other, and would be dead together in the fire. But, when the fire reached their net, the husband could not endure the fire. He flied away from his family, left the family died in the fire. The mother bird reborn as a very beautiful princess named Chantachorn. She didn.t want to speak with any men. Her father announced that if any men could heal his daughter speak to the guy, he would let them married. The father bird reborn as a very handsome prince named Worakit. When he grew up as a young man, he heard about how beautiful of princes Chantachorn. He would like to try to make the princes speak. By removed his heart to the pillow and other stuffs pretends that they can speak. Then he told these stuff the stories defame the women to induce the princes speak with. However, she said nothing. Finally, he told the story about the sparrow couple, but changed the end in the wrong way. In the new story, the mother bird was the one who left the family died in the fire. This made the princess very angry; she objected, and said that it's not true. Hearing his daughter speak, thus, the king arranged the marriage for them, and let them govern the country., No. of Pages: 301; No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Lost some pages, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Suwannahoisang (Fasicle Number 3)
Summary: Once upon a time, there was King Yotsawimon of Phomnakhon city. The king had two queens: the first was Queen Chanthevee and the second was Queen Chanthra. When the two queens were pregnant, the royal astrologer forecasted that Queen Chanthevee will have a son, while Queen Chanthra will have a girl. That made Chanthra very jealous. She planned to slander and drive out Queen Chanthevee. Queen Chanthevee miraculously gave birth to a conch shell. Queen Chanthra took this chance to slander the first queen. Finally, the king drove out Queen Chanthevee to the forest. The queen stayed with an elder couple. One day, she found that her son was a human but lives in a conch shell. She broke the shell and named her son Sang Thong (Golden Conch Shell). When the King learned that he had a son, he was very happy and wanted them back. However, because of the jealousy of Queen Chanthra, mother and son were accused of city misfortune. This time the king floated them on the sea. Mother and son were separated. Queen Chanthevee was helped by a rich man in one city. Prince Sang Thong was adopted by Queen Phanthurat, a queen of giant city. The giantess loved the prince like her real son. She commanded all giants disguise themselves as human. One day the prince recognized that Queen Phanthurat was a giantess. He was scared and decided to leave the city of giants. Before he left, he bathed himself in the golden pond. Then, his body became beautiful like gold. After that, he took a Negrito form with golden shoes and sword. Then, he flew away from the giant city. When Queen Phanthurat realized that Prince Sang Thong ran away, she followed him to get him back. Unfortunately, the young prince was still scared of his foster mother. He made the decision to go and it broke Queen Phanthurat?s heart. Before her death, she gave the prince magical words to call fish and animals. Then, Prince Sang Thong arrived in Paranasi city where the king had seven beautiful daughters. This time the king invited princes from other cities to attend a mate finding ceremony. Six princesses chose six princes from big cities, but the youngest and most beautiful Princess, Rotchana, chose the Prince Sang Thong in the form of a Negrito because she saw a Golden Prince inside. The king was very angry; he expelled the couple to the farm and wanted to eradicate the Negrito. He tried many ways with the six son-in-laws, but failed. When the Inthra recognized what happened with Prince Sang Thong and Princess Rotchana, he decided to help. He challenged the king to play polo for the city. Nobody in the city could fight with the Inthra. There was only the Negrito left. Therefore, the queen asked Princess Rotchana to plead her husband fight for the city. Finally, Prince Sang Thong decided to help. He took his Negrito form off, and then the golden prince was shown to the people. He wore the golden shoes, and then flew into the sky to fight with the Intra. He won the game and the Inthra went back to the heaven. The king was very happy and gave Prince Sang Thong a throne. When King Yotsavimon learned the truth from the Inthra, he looked for Queen Chanthevee and they traveled together to see Prince Sang Thong. The queen applied to be a female cook in the palace. One day, she cooked for the Prince Sang Thong. She told their story by carving the squash and put it in the curry. The prince knew at once that the cook was his mother. At the end, he followed his parents and came back to the throne of Phomnakhon city., No. of Pages: 35; No. of Fasicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Naphank Klai Kadon (Fasicle no 1)
Summary: The story is telling about the separated of the Inthra's forehead and occipital because of his Karma. On the day that he died from the heaven he was killed by Phrayathan; his body, forehead and occipital were separated and thrown to the earth. Even Queen Chada tried many ways to bring her husband back to alive; however it was not succeeded because of his karma. Finally, Thaw Wetsuwan (the king of hell) brought the head of died monk to put on the body of the Inthra to made him alive. After, the renewed the Inthra and Queen Chada were back to the heaven. The forehead of the Inthra reborn in the womb of Nang Phimpa who is a daughter of Phraya Kam Lan the king of Cammoon city. Phraya Kam Lan named the prince Chankumar, but the prince did not accept that name. He cried until the grandfather named him Naphark (forehead). The boy always asked for the Kadon (occipital), that made people thought that he was insane. Later on, decided to runaway from home to look for Kadon. The Inthra gave him a wishing crystal to protect him. When he arrived Phasamang city he had a chance to help the king form the giant. Therefore, the king gave his daughter in marriage to Naphak. The giant was very angry; he declared war on Phasamang city. Naphak won this war and then he was appointed to be a king who has virtues. The occipital of the Inthra reborn in the womb of Nang Kongkaew who is a queen of Phraya Ratcharatsa the king of Cammoon city. He named Kadon. When he grew up, the prince always asked for Naphak. People thought that he was insane decided to runaway from home to look for Naphak. This time the Inthra gave him a magical horse. He traveled to Yangdang city. He had a chanced to help the poor family which being exploited by the millionaire. When the king know about his story and realized his brave, smart, and virtue, he offered the city to Kadon. He stayed on the throne for a while before he gave it to Thao Kam Klom, a brother in the poor family. Then, he started his journey again to fine Naphak. At the city of Phraya Phabang, his son was deeply in love with Nag Sumontha the daughter of Phraya Kaosri. However, he did not allow them to get married. Be said that his son-in-law must be a great guy who is brave, smart, and virtue. Phraya Phabang realized the fame of Kadon. Therefore, he invited Kadon to teach his son. Later on, the lover got married by the assistant of Kadon. Back to the Inthra, after he back to heaven with Queen Chada, they stayed on the throne until it was their time to die from heaven. They were reborn as a couple on the earth. The Inthra want to meet Napak and Kadon. However, when Naphak and Kadon were met, they die immediately. Queen Chada brought them back by nectar. The three king stay on the same throne for a while before they agree to be single. They asked Thao Wetsuwan to help. The step started with brining the spirits from the body, and then took the head of monk from the Inthra's body. After that, he put the body in a wishing pond. Finally, he put the spirits back into the new body. Thus, the Inthra was reborn in a new body. Queen Chada gave birth to two princes, Prince Phromsan and Prince Phromsri. When they grew up, Prince Phromsri who has a supernatural power wanted to kill Phrayathan for his father. Even his father wanted him to stop. But, he did not listen. Prince Phromsri went to's place to fight with him. The new reform Inthra won Phrayathan, and married Phrayathan seven daughters. Then they back to Pharanasri city to be a new Intra. He atsyed on the throne of heaven until it was his time to die from heaven., No. of Pages: 84; No. of Fasicles: 2 Script: Tham Isan, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Prawinai
No. of Pages: 50 No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan, This palm leaf contains rules for monks; smaller section, Mahawak, Pajittee., This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.
Cethaphon
Summary: The story tell about the journey of Ayudthaya diplomatic corps to bring the the Abhidhamma-pitaka from Sawatthi city to city of Ayudthaya. The King of Ayudthaya heard that Wat Chetaphon (Chetaphon temple) in Sawatthi city is a very developed temple. He would like to know the fact and have a desire for to Abhidhamma-pitaka. Therefore, the king sent the diplomatic corps to seek for the truth; the corps included 400 men and 100 women. The corps started they journey in December, in the 3rd month they reached Hongsawadee City and had a chance to worship Chawedakong pagoda. Then they head forward to Himmaphan forest and stayed here for seven years, at the bank of Mahing River the peasants gave a birth of 300 babies. Then they start the journey again, after one year journey the corps met the hermit name Trikham who tell them more about Wat Chetaphon. On the way to Sawatthi 205 people infect with a disease and died. Eight days later the corps reached Sawatthi, after met the king of Sawatthi and the patriarch, the patriarch let them bring the Abhidhamma-pitaka back to Ayudthaya., No. of Pages: 218; No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Complete, This item digitized and made available online with funds provided by United States Department of Education, TICFIA (Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information) Grant P337A05006.