The “Song Plang Tang Mai” Version of Dalang

An Adaptation of the Dalang Story and Literary Art as a Nithan Kham Klon

Abstract

The “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of Dalang, or the “new adapted” Dalang, was written in a folded paper book (a Samut Thai) which is now kept at the National Library of Thailand. It starts from a scene in which Inao leaves Butsaba Chaorai in a forest and returns to the Kurepan kingdom to meet its king, and moves forward to a scene in which Butsaba Chaorai is deceived and put to death by Damang. It is mentioned in the Samut Thai that the poet composed this work by adapting a Dalang play which is probably the Dalang of King Rama I. This paper assumes that the “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of the Dalang was composed by a king or royalty during the Rattanakosin period. This version of the Dalang was composed in the form of a Nithan Kham Klon, or poetic tale, which had not appeared before the Dalang story was composed in this form, and it is a different version of the Dalang to the main King Rama I version. This paper thus aims to examine the adaptation and the literary arts of the “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of the Dalang as a Nithan Kham Klon. The study finds that the “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of the Dalang shares its main content and storyline with that of the Dalang of King Rama I. However, it adapts many details and characters, highlighting the love conflict in the episode and arousing the emotions and interest of the audience. The study also finds that the “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of the Dalang was composed artistically, as can be seen from its language and the insertion of didactic content for women. The “Song Plang Tang Mai” version of the Dalang could be considered as a significant work in the Thai literary tradition, as it contains both literary value as a Nithan Kham Klon and extends our knowledge of the history of Dalang literature.