National Children's Day 2009 Commemorative Stamps

Date of Issue : January 10,2009
Denomination : 3 Baht (8 Designs)
Designer : Thaneth Ponchaiwong

Major Literary Work of the Ratanakosin EraPhra Abhai Manee is a major work composed by Phra Sunthorn Vaoharn or Sunthorn Phu, a renowned poet of the early Ratanakosin Period. It is a narrative poem, written in the Klon verse form of 24,500 lines. the main plot involves the life of the protagonist, Phra Abhai Manee, from the age of 15. Like the major male characters of other Thai literary works, Phra Abhai Manee has to leave home for an education. However, he chooses to study how to play the flute and this enrages his father so much that he is banished from the city. That is where Phra Abhai Manee's adventures begins.
The hero, accompanied by his brother, Sri Suvan, has to go from one place to another until they meet the three Brahmins. Later, Phra Abhai Manee is abducted and confined in a cave by a Giantess. They have one son, named Sin Smut. The father and son are helped to escape from the Giantess by a mermaid who takes them to the Koh Kaew Pitsadarn Island. Phra Abhai Manee and the mermaid have a son named Sud Sakhon. Later, Phra Abhai Manee is helped by the King of the Crystal City and falls in love with his daughter, Nang Suvanna Malee, who is engaged to a foreigner from the Isle of Langka. This starts a conflict which develops into a war between The City of Crystal and Langka that lasts for many years. The war can only end when Nang Laveng, the daughter of the King of Langka, falls in love with Phra Abhai Manee.

After the war, Phra Abhai Manee becomes tired of the uncertainty of human life so he decides to become ordained, having two human wives Nang Suvanna Malee and Nang Laveng, follow him in his ascetic life. The later part of Phra Abhai Manee is involved with the adventures of the later generations, having Susd Sakhon and Nang Saowakhon as its major characters.

The episodes related to the character, sud Sakhon, are the most popular and are considered as the most valuable examples of children's literature. These episodes contain Phra Chao Ta (the Old Hermit) and Chee Pleuay (the Naked Maniac) to add more colour to the story.

Vol. 2009 Issue 1, Thai Stamp Bulletin
Thailand Post