Emblem of Thailand

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Garuda as the national symbol of Thailand

The National Emblem (National Symbol) of Thailand features the Garuda, a figure from both Buddhist and Hindu mythology. In Thailand, this figure is used as a symbol of the royal family and authority. This version of the figure is referred to as Krut Pha, meaning "garuḍa acting as the vehicle (of Vishnu)."

The Garuda also features in the coat of arms of Indonesia and the city of Ulan Bator (the capital of Mongolia). The coat of arms of Indonesia is different from that of Thailand in one respect, because it does not feature a heraldic shield.

[edit] History

In 1873, King Chulalongkorn designed a coat of arms for use in Siam (the old name for Thailand), in the western heraldic style. Twenty years later, he decided that the coat of arms was too westernized and lacked any image of the Garuda (which the kings of the Ayutthaya Kingdom had used as symbol of their power).

He then ordered his brother Prince Naris to make a new emblem in place of the coat of arms. At first, Naris had designed an emblem featuring Garuda, Naga and Vishnu inside a circle. The emblem was only used for a short while before the king suggested Naris removed the images of Vishnu and Naga.

After Chulalongkorn's reign, King Vajiravudh ordered Phra Dhevabhinimit (Thai: พระเทวาภินิมมิต) to create a new emblem. The new one featured Chulalongkorn's emblem, but encircled it to create an outer rim, which contained the royal ceremonial name. Upon coronation of a new king, the royal emblem is changed to correspond with the name of the new king. After the abdication of King Prajadhipok in 1935, King Ananda Mahidol succeeded to the throne, but he was never crowned, so a new emblem was not created and Chulalongkorn's emblem was used instead.

Today, an image of Garuda without the circle around it is used as the emblem of Thailand. It is printed at the top of official documents and letters. Garuda sculptures are given by king as a royal warrant to reliable companies who request so.

Emblem of Siam, which featured Garuda, Naga and Lord Vishnu. It was used as a royal emblem before the coat of arms.

Emblem of Siam. Created by Prince Naris to replace the coat of arms. It was only used for a short period.

Current version of emblem of Thailand. This version is used as the center part of the Thai royal emblem, which is made by adding king's ceremonial name around it. Note that this emblem is used as Seal.

Garuda sculpture, which is given by king of Thailand as a royal warrant.

[edit] Coat of arms of Siam 1873-1910

Former coat of arms of Siam in 1873-1910, used as the cap-badge of Royal Thai Police and the symbol of CRMA today.

Thailand used to have a national emblem in the heraldic style from 1873-1910. It was created during the reign of King Chulalongkorn the Great by HSH Prince Pravij Jumsai.

On the top of the coat of arms is the Great Victory Crown of Thailand (th: พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฎ), the most important royal regalia and the symbol of kingship. Under the crown is the symbol of the Royal House of Chakri, the King's royal family, which is a disc intersected with a trident. The royal seven-tiered umbrellas of state are also present on either side of the crown. To both sides of the coat of arms are the other regalia, the royal sword (th: พระแสงขรรค์ชัยศรี) and the royal baton (th: ธารพระกร). In the background is the draped robe - either the Royal robe of the King or the robe of the Order of Chulachomklao. The supporters are two mythical creatures, one is the Royal Lion, rajasiha, and the other is Elephant Lion, gajasiha.

The shield itself is partitioned into three parts. On the top of the shield, it is signifying the Thai part of the Kingdom (northern, southern and central Siam) by the three-headed elephant "Erawan" in yellow background. In the lower-left field, the Laotian suzerainty is showed by another white elephant in red background (this symbol comes for its native name "Lan Xang", land of the million elephants.) The lower-right field in pink shows the crossed kris for its Malay suzerainty.

There are two chains under the Arms, a necklace of the Order of the Nine Gems (meaning the Buddhism) and the Order of Chulachomklao one. The ribbon under the Arms is inscribed with the motto in Pali language which write in thai script "สพฺเพสํ สงฺฆภูตานํ สามคฺคี วุฑฺฒิ สาธิกา" (Romanization: "Sabbesam Sanghabhutānam Sāmaggī Vuḍḍhi Sādhiga.") This motto may be translated as "Unity brings happiness".

[edit] References

• สมบัติ พลายน้อย. ความรู้เรื่องตราต่าง ๆ พระราชลัญจกร (in Thai). รวมสาส์น. 
• สำนักเลขาธิการคณะรัฐมนตรี (1996). พระราชลัญจกร (in Thai). 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Coats of arms of Thailand

• Current National Emblem of Thailand
• Coat of arms of Siam 1873-1910
• Royal crest of the Kingdom of Siam

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