The Rank-Based Attire of Phraya Phichai Dap Hak in Royal Audiences and Ceremonies during the Thonburi Period and Its Associated Beliefs

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to examine the official attire of Phraya Phichai Dap Hak during in royal audiences and ceremonies in the Thonburi period and the associated belief systems. Data were collected through document analysis and interviews with the selected experts. The study focuses on the period when Phraya Phichai served as a high-ranking official under King Taksin the Great.

Findings indicate that his attire corresponds to the status of a governor with a sakdina (rank) of 5,000. Based on mural paintings and historical references, the appropriate regalia would have included a lomphok adorned with naga motifs, a white open-front robe extending to the knees, a single-layer lai yang patterned cloth, a dark indigo inner shirt in yaang noi style, and a jackfruit-thorn-patterned prakhot sash. These elements reflect cosmological beliefs that equate the king with Mount Meru and a divine being. Consequently, royal garments not only signify social rank but also affirm the recipient’s sacred role within the royal and cosmic order.