The Ram Khamhaeng Inscription

One of Thailand’s most important historical documents Sukhothai, c.1292

The Ram Khamhaeng Inscription is the earliest known example of Thai script and the forerunner of the modern Thai alphabet. Inscribed on a black stone stele, it describes the 13th-century kingdom of Sukhothai during the reign of King Ram Khamhaeng.

It was discovered in 1833 by Prince Mongkut, later King Rama IV, who claimed that he found the inscription among the ruins of the old palace at Sukhothai. It was placed in the Wat Phra Kaew – the Temple of the Emerald Buddha – after Mongkut acceded to the throne. The inscription remained at the temple until 1923 and it was moved several times until it was placed in the National Museum in Bangkok, where it remains today.

The inscription was created to mark the occasion of setting up a stone throne for the king and four inscriptions were made in total, although this is the only one to have survived. Attributed to King Ram Khamhaeng himself, the inscription records Sukhothai as a plentiful, pious and peaceful state while glorifying the king’s life and excellent governance.

However, the change in tone across the inscription suggests that it was written over some time, with the absence of the first pronoun in the last two parts indicating that they were written after the king’s death in

1298. Most of the inscription was deciphered a few decades after its discovery, but some letters have disappeared or remain unknown.

Even so, there has been debate surrounding the authenticity of the inscription and whether it is a 19th-century forgery, possibly arranged by Prince Mongkut himself to justify his reformist policies. The stone was subsequently analysed in 1990 using a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which confirmed that it was at least 500 to 700 years old.

The inscription contributed to the Historic Town of Sukhothai being designated a

UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, where there is a replica of the stele on display at the Sukhothai National Museum. It was also added to UNESCO’S Memory of the World Register in 2003, emphasising the global significance of the inscription and the invention of a new writing system.

NATIONAL HISTORY This account about the kingdom of Sukhothai has played a crucial role in the national history of Thailand. In particular, the belief that Thailand rose from the prosperous kingdom, governed by a gracious king, forms an integral part of the country’s national identity. A NEW SCRIPT The script used was adapted from pre-existing Khmer and Mon scripts. Although the inscription credits King Ram Khamhaeng with inventing the script, it has also been suggested that it was created by scholars at his request. MEASUREMENT DETAILS The stone stele is 114.5cm high with four sides, each one 35.5cm wide, and topped by a quadrilateral pyramid. There is writing on all four sides, with 35 lines on the first and second and 27 on the third and fourth. WORLD SIGNIFICANCE The Ram Khamhaeng inscription contains several political, economic and cultural values that are shared by many modern states today. This includes good governance, political legitimacy, economic freedom, religious morality, freedom of expression and citizen’s rights.