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{{Short description|Thai poet (1786–1855)}}
{{redirect|Phra Sunthonwohan|other people with the title|Sunthonwohan}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name             = Sunthorn Vohara (Phu)
| honorific_prefix = ''[[Thai nobility#Noble titles|Phra]]''
| image            = วัดเทพธิดารามวรวิหาร เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (28).jpg
| image_size       = 
| caption          = Statue of Sunthorn (Phu) at [[Wat Thepthidaram]], Bangkok
| pseudonym        = Sunthorn Phu ({{lang|th|สุนทรภู่}})
| birth_name       = Phu ({{lang|th|ภู่}})
| birth_date       = 26 June 1786
| birth_place      = [[Bangkok Noi district|Bangkok Noi]], [[Bangkok]], [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Siam]]
| death_date       = 1855 (aged 69)
| death_place      = [[Taling Chan district|Taling Chan]], [[Bangkok]], [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Siam]]
| children         = 3
| occupation       = [[Scribe]], [[poet]]
| language         = [[Thai language|Thai]]
| nationality      = [[Thailand|Thai]]
| genre            = [[Fantasy fiction|Fantasy]] or [[Historical fiction|Historical]]
| notableworks     = ''[[Phra Aphai Mani]]''
}}
'''Phra Sunthorn Vohara (Phu)''' ({{langx|th|พระสุนทรโวหาร (ภู่)}}, {{RTGS|''Phra Sunthonwohan (Phu)''}}, {{IPA|th|pʰá.sǔn.tʰɔ̄ːn.woː.hǎːn.pʰûː|pron}}; 26 June 1786 – 1855), known as '''Sunthorn Phu''' ({{langx|th|สุนทรภู่}}, {{RTGS|''Sunthonphu''}}, {{IPA|th|sǔn.tʰɔ̄ːn.pʰûː|pron}}), is [[Thailand]]'s best-known royal poet.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Champeon|first1=Kenneth|title=Thailand's Shakespeare? Sunthorn Phu|url=http://thingsasian.com/story/thailands-shakespeare-sunthorn-phu|website=Things Asian|access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> He wrote during the [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Rattanakosin period]].

Phu's career as a royal poet began in the reign of King [[Buddha Loetla Nabhalai|Rama II]], and when the king died, he resigned from the role and became a monk. Twenty years later, in the reign of King [[Jessadabodindra|Rama III]], he returned to court as a royal scribe, where he remained for the rest of his life.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Umavijani|first1=Montri|title=Sunthorn Phu: The Poet of Four Reigns|url=http://sakchaip.tripod.com/bookworm/sunthorn/sunthornphu3.html|website=Sakchaip.tripod.com|access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref>

Phu was renowned for composing verse, and his [[epic poetry]] is popular in Thailand to the present day. His works include ''Nirat Phukhao Thong'', a collection of poems recounting his journey to the Golden Mountain; ''Nirat Suphan'', his journey to [[Suphan Buri province]]; and the ''[[Phra Aphai Mani]]'' saga.

==Biography==
[[File:Bkkanusunthornphu0506.jpg|thumb|Memorial at [[Wat Si Sudaram]], Bangkok]]

Sunthorn Phu was born in the reign of King [[Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke|Rama I]], on 26 June 1786 ([[Horse (zodiac)|year of the Horse]]), around 8.00 a.m. His family's house was behind the [[Rear Palace|royal palace]], near the present day [[Bangkok Noi railway station]] and [[Wang Lang Market]]. It is generally understood that his father was from Ban Kram, [[Klaeng district]], [[Rayong province]], but in the belief of a new generation of historians that in fact his father was of [[Brahmin]] lineage from [[Samo Phlue|Ban Samo Phlue]], [[Ban Lat district]] in [[Phetchaburi province]] today.

At the time the epic poet was born, Bangkok had been established as the Thai capital just four years earlier, founding the [[Rattanakosin era]] which continues to the present day.

His father and mother divorced. His father became a monk at [[Ban Kram]] temple. His mother became a wet nurse for the royal family. Phu had an opportunity to work in the palace with his mother, where he fell in love with a lady in the palace named Chan, who was related to the royal family. The couple were arrested and punished as their relationship violated the traditional social order, but they were pardoned on the king's death.

Phu later returned to Rayong to visit his father, and wrote a poem about the journey called ''Nirat Mueang Klaeng'' which became one of his most famous poems. He wrote the epic poem for his fiancée, Chan. After he returned to the palace in Bangkok he married Chan, and they had a son named Phat. It was at this time that King Rama II appointed him court poet. However, the couple were not married long, divorcing after Phu had an affair with another woman. This was the first of many marriages ending in divorce, although he later professed that the wife he had loved the most was Chan. Phu became an [[alcoholism|alcoholic]], and, around 1821, was jailed after a fight.

He began the poem, ''[[Phra Aphai Mani]]'' in prison, and published it in installments over the next twenty years. The epic tale follows the title character, Prince Aphai Mani, a [[Byronic hero]], in his [[Romanticism|romantic]] adventures throughout ancient Thailand.

King Rama II was so pleased with Phu's poetry that he awarded him the title of "[[Khun (noble title)|Khun]]". During the reign of King Rama III, however, Phu made the grave mistake of publicly correcting one of the king's poems, and was stripped of his title as punishment. After this disgrace, he initially entered the Buddhist priesthood, but later became a merchant.

During the reign of King [[Rama IV]], Phu came into the service of [[Front Palace|viceroy]] (or vice-king) [[Pinklao]] as head of the [[Front Palace]]'s [[Royal Scribes Department]], and was awarded the title of "[[Phra (noble title)|Phra]]". He died in 1855 at a house by the [[Khlong Chak Phra]] canal near Wat Rae Rai temple in [[Taling Chan district]], Bangkok.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Purachatra|first1=Prince Prem|title=Sunthon Phu|url=http://www.thailandlife.com/thai-culture/sunthon-phu.html|website=Thailand Life|access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matichon.co.th/education/news_2252061|work=Matichon|date=2020-07-06|access-date=2021-01-05|language=th|title=นี่ก็ผีไม่ได้บอก! 'พระยาปริยัติธรรมธาดา' บอก 'สุนทรภู่' ตายที่บ้านสวนย่าน 'ตลิ่งชัน' กรุงเทพฯ ไม่ใช่เมืองแกลง |author1=Matichon }}</ref>

==Legacy==
Sunthorn left behind a legacy of poems that have become famous over time because of their description of Thai history. In 1986, the 200th anniversary of his birth, Sunthorn Phu was honored by [[UNESCO]] as a great world poet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anniversaries of great personalities and historic events, 1986-1987|date=1986-03-11|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|id=OPI.85/WS/6|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000067855.locale=en|access-date=2021-07-13}}</ref> His ''Phra Aphai Mani'' poems describe a fantastical world, where people of all races and religions live and interact together in harmony.

Recently, his literary works have been adapted in various media such as comics, films and songs. [[Cinema of Thailand|Thai cinema's]] first and only cel-animated cartoon feature film, ''[[The Adventure of Sudsakorn]]'' (1979), was based on a character from ''Phra Aphai Mani''. It was directed by [[Payut Ngaokrachang]]. A live-action version of the tale was made in 2006, titled ''[[Legend of Sudsakorn]]''.

Monuments of two characters from his epic work, ''Phra Aphai Mani'' have been erected on [[Ko Samet]]'s Hat Sai Kaeo beach, the title character, Prince Aphai Mani, and the siren/mermaid character.

===Memorial===
A memorial to Sunthorn Phu was elected in [[Klaeng district]], [[Rayong province]], the birthplace of his father.<ref name=TAT>{{cite web|title=Sunthon Phu Monument|url=http://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Sunthon-Phu-Monument--1081|website=Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)|access-date=19 January 2016}}</ref> His birthday, 26 June, is celebrated in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu Day.

Sunthorn Phu Memorial Park is a 33.15 acre facility. The foundation stone was set on 30 December 1955 by Prime Minister Pibulsongkram, but construction stopped for 10 years, until 1968. The Rayong Governor at that time was Vithya Kasetsaowapak who donated 962,766.10 baht to purchase the land. It was completed on 5 March 1970 and had its official opening on 25 May 1970.

The memorial sits on a hillside. Three sculptures surround the statue of Sunthorn Phu. The other sculptures represent the main characters in his literary works, including [[Phra Aphai Mani|Prince Aphai Mani]], the ocean butterfly, and the mermaid. Sukij Laidej created the  Phu statue. Gaisorn Srisuwan sculpted Aphai Mani. Saroj Jaruc carved the mermaid, and Thana Laohathaikul executed the ocean butterfly.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027020105/http://geocities.com/tthida/ |date=27 October 2009 |title=Sunthorn Phu - Thailand's Greatest Poet }} {{in lang|th}}
*[http://www.bangkoksite.com/rayong/Statue.htm The Statue of Sunthorn Phu] in Rayong Province

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[[Category:1786 births]]
[[Category:1855 deaths]]
[[Category:Epic poets]]
[[Category:Thai poets]]
[[Category:Thai-language poets]]
[[Category:Phra (nobility)]]