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สาขาวรรณกรรมพื้
นบ้
าน
มรดกภู
มิ
ปั
ญญาทางวั
ฒนธรรม
56
The tale of Sang Thong
i s wel l -known
and appreciated by the Thai people in various regions
and persisted in several regional versions in both oral
and written. The oldest written version is Suwan Sangkha
Chadok in Panyasa Chadok (Chadok - Jataka tales in
Buddhism). Other written versions also exist in various
regions of Thailand, for example, Suwan Sangkha Kuman
from the northeastern region and the Sang Thong
Kham Kap from the southern region.
In addition to the popularity of the various versions
of Sang Thong tale, other tales with similar story also
exist in various regions of the country, for example,
Kam Ka Dam, Phae Kham, Thao Tao, Suwan Sirasa,
and Taeng Khiao. They may not be the same story
as Sang Thong tale but use a similar storyline or plot:
the hero hiding behind an ugly or deformed physique,
the hero in love with a high-born heroine and facing
opposition by the heroine’s father, the hero finally
proving to everyone of his good quality or physical
beauty under the cloak of ugliness and deformity, the
hero being eventually accepted by everyone. Similar
stories are so numerous, and popular in the repertory
of Thai folk tales that it must be acknowledged that
this type of story touches a chord in the Thai people’s
heart.
Besides its popularity as literature, Sang Thong tale is
also associated with, and plays a role in, the various Thai
The Tale of Sang Thong
ways of life, for example, in the place names, vernacular
expressions, folk songs, riddles, astrological texts,
paintings, and other art forms. Today, the popularity
of Sang Thong story persists in other forms: students’
textbooks, comic books, fairy tale books, animated
cartoons, television folk tale dramas, or novels. It is
also featured in contemporary arts such as in modern
sculpture and modern puppet theatre. The story and
the characters of Sang Thong can also be found as the
name of plants, amulets, titles of television shows, etc.
Sang Thong, definitely as the Thai people’s favorite
story, is an intellectual cultural legacy which has
withstood the test of time.