Samfangkaen
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Samfangkaen
| |
|---|---|
| King of Lan Na | |
| Reign | 1401–1441/1442 |
| Predecessor | Saenmueangma |
| Successor | Tilokaraj |
| Born | 1388 |
| Died | 1447 (aged 58–59) |
| Issue |
|
| Dynasty | Mangrai |
| Father | Saenmueangma |
| Mother | Tilokchuthathewi |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
Samfangkaen (Northern Thai: ᩈᩣ᩠ᨾᨺᩢ᩠᩵ᨦᨠᩯ᩠ᨶ, Thai: สามฝั่งแกน), Samphayafangkaen (Northern Thai: ᩈᩣ᩠ᨾᨷᩕ᩠ᨿᩣᨺᩢ᩠᩵ᨦᨠᩯ᩠ᨶ, Thai: สามประหญาฝั่งแกน) or Samphayamaenai (Northern Thai: ᩈᩣ᩠ᨾᨷᩕ᩠ᨿᩣᨶᩯᨾ᩵ᩱᨶ, Thai: สามประหญาแม่ใน), was the 8th monarch in the Mangrai dynasty. He was born in 1388 and reigned from 1401 to 1441[1]/1442[2] before died in 1447 at the age of 59.[3]
In ancient chronicles and oral traditions, Samfangkaen is referred to by various names. For example, in the Jinakalamali, he is called “Ditthakumara” or “Chao Dit” (Prince Dit). In another version, he is named “Phra Chao Sam Prayong Mae Nai”. In some chronicles, his name is not mentioned at all. In The History of Lan Na by Sarassawadee Ongsakul, he is referred to as “Phaya Sam Phraya Fang Kaen.”[4]
The Chiang Mai Chronicle, Wat Methangkarawat version (from Phrae province), explains the origin of King Samfangkaen’s name:
His name was given according to the place of his birth. At the time, his mother was eight months pregnant, and Chao Saen Mueang Ma took her on a royal tour through various towns, including those in the Tai Lue region of Sipsongpanna. After about seven months of travel, they returned and arrived at Phanna Samfangkaen, where she gave birth to the prince.[5] Today, that location is believed to correspond to Inthakhin, Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai province. The old city in that area is known to be surrounded by three rivers: Kaen River, Ping River, and Sangat (or Ngat) River.
According to the research report titled Basic Survey of Thung Phan Aek – Phan Fuea, Mueang Kaen, conducted by the Chiang Mai Cultural Center of Chiang Mai Teachers College, it is hypothesized that the king’s name may have derived from either the name of the city, Phanna Fang Kaen, or from the three rivers known collectively as Samfangkaen (“Three Banks of the Kaen River”).
In the case of the Kaen River, Aroonrut Wichienkeeo proposed that the word “Kaen” may come from “Kang Kaen” (Thai: กั่งแก๊น), a phrase mentioned in the legends of Mueang Kaen. The term described the grief and emotional torment of the local people after enemy invasions led to forced relocations and separations of families. Alternatively, it might derive from “Kaen”, which means “middle” or “center.”[6]
The Chronicle of Chiang Saen refers to the king as “Phaya Sam Phraya Mae Nai.” while, The Chronicle of Chiang Mai, Wat Chiang Man version, it is stated that after the king moved to Mong Hsat, he lived near the Mae Nai River, and thus came to be known as “Phaya Mae Nai” or “Phaya Sam Phraya Mae Nai.”
Family
Samfangkaen was the second son of Saenmueangma and Tilokchuthathewi, the daughter of a ruler from the Sipsongpanna region. He had an older half-brother named Thao Yi Kum Kam. However, historian Sanguan Chotisukrat noted that Samfangkaen may have actually been the third son. According to ancient Tai custom, the eldest child was traditionally called “Ai” (first), followed by Yi (second), Sam (third), Si (fourth), Ngua (fifth), Lok (sixth), etc. It is possible that the first royal child died at a young age, and thus his name did not appear in historical records.
Samfangkaen had ten sons by different consorts. Their names follow the ancient Tai numeric naming tradition: Thao Ai, Thao Yi, Thao Sam, Thao Sai, Thao Ngua, Thao Lok, Thao Chet, Thao Paet, Thao Kao, and Thao Sip.
Notable information about some sons:
- Thao Ai: The king intended to pass the throne to him. He established a palace near Wiang Chet Lin at the age of 5. However, he died at the age of 9 after residing there for 4 years.
- Thao Ngua (also known as Chao Chiang Lan): Was granted rule over Phanna Chiang Ruea.
- Thao Lok: Appointed as ruler of Phrao, and granted land for 500 household farms (phanna) in the Wang Hin area.
- Thao Chet: Appointed ruler of Chiang Rai.
- Thao Sip: Appointed ruler of Fang.
As for the remaining sons, Thao Yi, Thao Sai, Thao Paet, and Thao Kao, their father allowed them to pursue their own paths independently.