Preserving the Legend of Phumiphon Castle
Phumiphon Castle
Phumiphon Castle is an ancient Khmer-style temple built around the 12th - 13th Buddhist century, corresponding to the reign of King Jayavarman I. It is located in Ban Phumiphon, Dom Subdistrict, Sangkha District, Surin Province. The site consists of three brick temples and one laterite base temple, arranged from north to south.
The third brick temple, which is the main prang, is the largest structure, built with brick without mortar, featuring pillar decorations around the doorways and a sandstone lintel. Below the lintel are scrolling leaf motifs. The design and construction techniques of the main prang are comparable to pre-Angkorian Khmer temples, contemporary with the first temple.
The name of the temple can be divided into two words: Phumi meaning land, and Phon meaning hidden, reflecting the idea of a hidden land.
Architectural Features
Phumiphon Castle consists of four ancient structures.
The Phumiphon Castle complex consists of three brick temples and one laterite-based temple, built over at least two different periods. The large brick temple and the northernmost temple are considered the oldest examples of Khmer-style architecture in Thailand, dating back to around the 13th Buddhist century.
The smaller brick temple in the middle and the laterite-based temple to the south were constructed in a later period, likely as Hindu Shaivite places of worship, similar to other religious sites of the same era. Although no lingam (symbolic representation of Shiva) has been found inside the prang, the main temple still features a somasutra pipe, a ritual water channel extending from the pedestal of the deity in the central chamber, attached to the wall at floor level.
Annual Grand Festival: Preserving the Legend of Phumiphon Castle
At the Phumiphon Castle site
A grand light and sound performance titled Phumiphon Nakara: The Love Promise of Niang Dohthom is held at the Phumiphon Castle site. The term Niang Dohthom is a local phrase meaning a beautiful young woman, who is the central figure of this years performance. The show tells a local tragic love legend and features silk fashion shows, traditional Muay Thai demonstrations by local youth, and folk dances, including the Ruem Trad dance.
Each year, the performance presents a dramatic stage production with lights and sound, based on historical evidence and local legends. It showcases historical stories drawn from archaeological findings and folklore associated with Phumiphon Castle, incorporating local traditions of Dom Subdistrict and the castles geographical significance. The show is creatively reinterpreted and scripted from these sources, delivering a theatrical performance that blends and celebrates local arts and culture.
The Legend of Phumiphon Castle
Story: Phumiphon Nakara The Love Promise of Niang Dohthom
The performance is based on the legend of Nang Srichan, the last Khmer princess who ruled Phumiphon City.
This is the traditional legend associated with Phumiphon Castle, Sangkha District, Surin Province.
It is said that at Lam Chiak Pond, about 200 meters east of the castle, a cluster of Lam Chiak trees grew, but these trees never blossomed, unlike others outside the pond. This unusual phenomenon gave rise to the legend of Phumiphon Castle, the founding of the city, and the flight of the Khmer princess.
A Khmer king built a secret city deep in the forest, called Phumiphon Castle. Later, when the capital faced unrest and enemies approached, the king sent his daughter along with some attendants to hide in Phumiphon. This princess was named Nang Srichan, though locals often called her Nang Nom Yai.
Another ruler sent seven hunters with supplies and an elephant to capture wild animals for his park. The hunters wandered until they reached Trapang Phan and discovered Phumiphon Castle. Hearing of the princesss legendary beauty, the hunters secretly watched her bathing and confirmed her remarkable charm. They hurried back to report to their king, who was delighted and prepared an army to bring her as his queen.
After bathing, Nang Srichan had a premonition that her hiding place was discovered. That night, she dreamed of making a fortune-telling krathong (decorative floating basket) with seven scented hair strands and a message stating that whoever retrieved it would become her spouse. She also had her portrait drawn inside the krathong. Upon waking, she followed her dreams instructions. The krathong floated to Holman City, where the local prince retrieved it. However, when Nang Srichan saw his appearance, she was stunned and cried. The prince, understanding his own unattractive appearance, did not force her to marry but instead helped her dig ponds, build city walls, and construct a ceremonial drum, promising to come to her aid immediately whenever she called, without unnecessary punishment.
The king who sent the seven hunters initially besieged Phumiphon Castle. Nang Srichan tried to hide and considered sacrificing herself, as those who desired her were either unattractive or of different social status, making marriage impossible. She attempted to escape toward the cannon fire, hoping to be killed, but survived. When the king entered the city, he rescued her, and she recovered. As the army prepared to return with her, she requested one final bath at Lam Chiak Pond and planted a Lam Chiak tree, praying that if she never returned, the tree would never blossom again.
Afterward, she was taken west to Ban Srichoruk, rested there, and ate pork (Sichoruk means eat pork). The army caught up at Ban Thap Than, continued to Ban Lam Duan, and rested while celebrating with dancing and performances. In Khmer, Rum Dool refers to this type of dance, which gave the modern Lam Duan District its name.
Thus, the name Phumiphon carries the meaning of a hidden village (Phumi = village, Phon = hidden; another interpretation of Phon is olive).
This performance does not aim to present only the local legend of Niang Dohthom. It also incorporates archaeological history, arts, and culture to raise awareness of both the historical and local legendary heritage. The show seeks to foster a sense of pride, preservation, and appreciation for the cultural heritage of Dom Subdistrict, Sangkha District, Surin Province.
Thus, Phumiphon Castle is considered an important historical site with a history of over 1,300 years. The site comprises four temples, three ponds, and a large baray (reservoir) covering 175 rai, reflecting the ancient civilization of the Khmer Empire. It still features intricate carvings of scrolling leaf motifs, an artistic symbol from the Phumiphon period, which predates similar Khmer art found in Cambodia.
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