The Kingdom of Thailand has had the King ruled the country continuously since the founding of the Kingdom of Sukhothai in 1238. Nevertheless, the current concept of Thai kingship has evolved through 800 years of absolute rule, and then this Thai kingship has been transformed into a constitutional form in 1932 after a coup revolution. The concept of the Thai kingship is basically derived from the idea of the Dhammaraja and the teaching of Buddha, as much as the governing of father to the children or so-called “Paternal Rule”. This is why the Thai kingship has tied the hearts of all Thai people.
The Thai monarchs have been listed starting from the Kingdom of Sukhothai by Phra Ruang Dynasty (B.E. 1238-1438) ; the Kingdom of Ayutthaya by Uthong , Suphannaphum, Sukhothai, Prasat Thong, and Ban Phlu Luang Dynasties (1350-1767); the Kingdom of Thonburi by Thonburi Dynasty (1768-1782); and the Kingdom of Rattanakosin, Siam (Thailand) by Chakri Dynasty (1782 –present). Therefore the King’s residences, the palaces, had been altered between the capitals and major cities during each period of rulings. The palaces kept preciously from the historic period are those seen in the provinces of Sukhothai Ayudhaya, and Bangkok. At present, the official King’s residence is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. However, the present King, King Bhumibol Adulyadej or King Rama IX, spends most of his time at his private residence at Chitralada Palace (in Bangkok), and the Klai Kangwon Villa at Hua Hin beach city.
Based on the Thai kingship concept, the King is loaded with many important aspects to contribute to help develop Thai people and the country. Specifically, the present King, King Bhumibol, has initiated thousands of important projects to improve the country and the life of his people. Some of them are, such as, the artificial rain project that assists directly to the farmer when facing with scarcity of water problem. The projects regarding water reservoirs, and dams to also help people during wet and dry seasons if flooded and scarcity of water become problem. The solution to water pollution crisis that the Chaipattana Low Speed Surface Aerator has been developed, and nowadays has been widely used in the country. Lately, the famous project in helping Thai people sustain their economy is the project named “Sustainable Economic Theory”. Since all projects are aimed for the better life of the people and the country, King Bhumibol has traveled throughout the country and works all through his time since reigning until the present day. Thus, the present Thai King has known to the world to be the “Hard Working King and the Life Time Working King”. Apart from that many of his projects become the World recognition and being awarded by UN for being the UN’s first and only Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2006. His Chaipattana Low Speed Surface Aerator had been awarded gold medal from the Belgian Chamber of Inventor for the World Scientific Invention, etc.
On 5th December 2011, the King’s birthday, thousands and thousands of the Thais wearing yellow shirts gathering themselves in front of the Anantasamakhom Parliament Building to bless for the love of their King for his 84 years. This has signified how the King of The Kingdom of Thailand has held the hearts of all Thai people.
