The Chronicles of Siam

The exotic place of Siam has a rich way of life based on what we perceived in the film. Many of the ancient customs give Siam its unique identity; there are astonishing royal palace, wonderful temples, stunning dragon-headed royal barge, processions, Buddha’s images and lively trading in the haven of Siam.

Siam is a bunged nation with social caste rigidity and dependence on slavery under the iron hand of Monarchy. Slaves are treated as slaves and if they want to be freed, they must pay their master what their cost is.

The man’s authority and superiority is governing the whole Siam in the presence of a ruler, paternal monarch called the KING. In the film, the king wants to modernize his country to keep it safe from the threat of colonialism, thus the king’s decision will prevail over the land of Siam. Every time the king will pass a place, everyone should kneel or bow down before him. The paternal monarch is well-loved and deeply respected. Who dares to stand in the King’s presence and to stand up to him verbally through direct opposition and unsolicited opinions will be chastised or it will cause his or her death. Death! Those who go against the king will be punished and beheaded in front of the Siamese people. Also those who will defy Siam’s convention shall put to death.

Also, the king can marry many women as he wants. Concubines are the term for them. The concubine is taken away from her family to be one of the favorite sex slaves and then she will be exposed to the public. When a new girl is brought into the palace, it is implied that the king sleeps with her, though we see nothing but her anxiety over giving herself to a man she doesn't love which helps make a case that the sexual act is a precious gift that should be exclusively reserved for the king.

The king believes to reincarnation. When the king’s favorite daughter, Princess Fa-Ying, who has spirit of the playful monkeys, died because of cholera, his world turns up-side down. After mourning because of his daughter’s death and moving to a new life, King finds that one of the monkeys in the royal garden has "borrowed" his glasses, as his daughter used to do, he is comforted by his belief in reincarnation and the idea that Fa-Ying may be reborn as one of her beloved animals.

No ordinary Siamese can enter the majestic, forbidden place called the HAREM except the royal family including the noble children, wives and concubines of the king. Common people are constricted to cross the threshold of the fortress.

In the film, it is viewed that women in Siam has a struggle for independence and recognition in a male dominated world, a need that becomes even more challenged in Siam’s royal palace where women have virtually no status outside of the family role. Nobody eventually claims her place as the King’s equal.

Based on the film, it is clear that Buddhism is highly dynamic and vibrant. It is an important agent of change not only in the Royal family itself but also in other aspects of Siamese life. The King leads his children, wives, concubines and servants in a prayer.

Buddhism appears throughout the film, though it is never promoted as any better or more reliable than any other religion. The king prays to Buddha. A Buddhist priest will offer his life to Buddha by settling himself inside a monastery, like what Lady Tuptim’s true love, Balat, did.

And these are the different traditions and customs of Siam we observed as presented in the film.