Sunthon Phu

Thai poet

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July 14, 2026

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Sunthon Phu (1787–1855) was a prominent Thai poet during the second golden age of Thai literature, which occurred under King Rama II. Despite humble origins, his poetic talent earned him a position as the king's private secretary. While he lost his court position under King Rama III, he went on to write his most famous work, the epic fantasy-romance Phra Aphaimani. This work, comprising 30,000 lines, is considered Thailand's best-known literary piece and marked a shift away from strict court domination in literature. Sunthon Phu's poetry is recognized as the origin of modern Thai poetry, influencing subsequent generations of writers.12

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Southeast Asian arts
Second golden age: King Rama II (1809–24)
…testified to his greatness, and Sunthon Phu, the king’s private secretary, who was born of humble parents but made his way in the court by the excellence of his poetry. A strongly religious king, Rama III disbanded the corps of writers and discouraged the performance of plays at his court.…
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…testified to his greatness, and Sunthon Phu, the king’s private secretary, who was born of humble parents but made his way in the court by the excellence of his poetry. A strongly religious king, Rama III disbanded the corps of writers and discouraged the performance of plays at his court.…
Read More