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Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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4th c. 5th c. 6th c. 7th c. 8th c. 9th c. 10th c. 11th c. 12th c. 13th c. 14th c. 15th c. 16th c. 17th c. 18th c. 19th c. 20th c. 21st c.<br />

The King Ram<br />

Khamhaeng inscription<br />

Inscribed 2003<br />

What is it<br />

A siltstone from <strong>the</strong> royal palace grounds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old<br />

city <strong>of</strong> Sukhothai. Its four sides bear <strong>the</strong> oldest known<br />

inscription in <strong>the</strong> Thai language in Sukhothai scripts<br />

which celebrates <strong>the</strong> achievements <strong>of</strong> King Ram<br />

Khamhaeng (1279–98).<br />

Why was it inscribed<br />

This inscription’s significance comes from <strong>the</strong><br />

light it throws on <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> King Khamhaeng<br />

from a Thai perspective and on <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Thai<br />

script. It is evocative <strong>of</strong> its time and place in <strong>the</strong><br />

context <strong>of</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Asia and China which form<br />

an important strand <strong>of</strong> world history.<br />

Where is it<br />

National Museum, Bangkok, Thailand<br />

The King Ram Khamhaeng inscription <strong>of</strong> 1292 records<br />

<strong>the</strong> invention <strong>of</strong> Thai language script that is <strong>the</strong> foundation<br />

104 The King Ram Khamhaeng inscription

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