Khun Chang Khun Phaen

Japanese: クンチャーン･クンペーン（英語表記）Khun Chang Khun Phaen

This is the most Thai work of classical Thai literature. It is a traditional tale created to celebrate the 16th century Ayutthaya victory over Chiang Mai, and was written by royal command during the second golden age of Thai literature, during the reign of King Rama II (1809-24). The king himself, as well as great royal poets such as Klu Chain, Sunthong Phu, and later King Rama III, poured all their energy into creating this grand romance of over 20,000 lines. It is written in verse in the Sae-pa style, with a lecture given to the sound of clapping wooden sticks, and was completed during the reign of King Rama III (1824-51). The story revolves around a love triangle between Khunphan, a handsome warrior skilled in martial arts and magic, and Khunchan, a bald, ugly-looking man of great wealth, who compete for the beautiful and seductive Wangthong, who is toyed with by fate.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

タイ古典文学中最もタイ的な作品。16世紀アユタヤ朝の対チエンマイ戦勝を祝って作られた伝承物語を，タイ文学第二黄金時代のラーマ2世時代(1809‐24)に，王命により王自らをはじめクルー･チェーン，スントーンプー，後のラーマ3世など王宮の大詩人たちが全力を傾注して合作した2万行以上に上る大ロマン。拍子木を叩きながら講釈するセーパー形式の韻文で，ラーマ3世時代(1824‐51)に完成した。武芸呪術に長じた眉目秀麗な武人クンペーンと禿頭で容貌醜悪ながら巨富のクンチャーンが，運命にもてあそばれる妖艶な美女ワントーンを奪いあう三角関係を中心に物語は展開する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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