Antique Siamese Maps New Discoveries of Old Treasures

In 1995, 17 antique Siamese maps wereto capture a
discovered in thecoastal fort in what is now Peninsula Malaysia. It
Grand Palace. Ironically, the people who foundwas the
these rare oldbattle plan of the Siamese expeditionary force to
maps weren't even looking for them. On aput down a
search for old courtMuslim revolt in southern provinces.The chart
textiles for an exhibition, officials stumbled upondenotes details of enemy cannon and forces,
some cottondeployment of Siamese ships and forces, the
sheets with elaborate markings in a cupboard inattack plan,
the Princessincluding the assault and scaling parties for the
Abhantri Paja Mansion, royal residence of awalls. The
daughter of Kingchart even records the outcome of the battle
Rama V.The cotton sheets turned out to beand casualties.
antique Siamese maps. TheThe name of rebel leader on the chart matched
discovery of these maps started a quest forthat of a rebel
their origin andleader during the reign of King Rama III.Khemen
purpose that was to last almost 10 years. TheNai Ni (Cambodia) covers famous Angkor Wat
officialsand
presented the maps to the Crown Princess whoTonle Sap, the lake that drains and fills during the
taskeddry and
Santanee Phasuk, a geography teacher atrainy seasons. The positions of Angkor Wat and
Chitralada School toother temples
embark on this mission.In 1997, Santanee wentand Tonle Sap with all its tributaries are clearly
on a royally sponsored doctorate inmarked in
cartography to research on these maps at thedetail.The area covers the Cambodian provinces
School ofof Battambang and
Oriental and African Studies, University ofSiem Reap over which several wars were
London.Together with Professor Philip Scott, Headfought. These
of the Geographyterritories were in dispute right up till the
Department in the same university, Dr Santanee1940s.Of the five antique Siamese maps, Muang
researchedJin (China) is the
and analyzed the old maps, which coveredmost fascinating. The 2x4 m piece covers the
Burma, Thailandentire coastline
Indochina and China. Characteristics of the oldfrom Thailand to southern China, Hong Kong and
mapsThe old maps are hand drawn and handTaiwan, all
painted on largethe way to Japan and Korea, including the
cotton sheets with names written in Thai script.northern tip of
The mapsLuzon, Philippines. The coastline has been
consist of topography maps with the terrainaccurately mapped
featureswith details of all the coastal inlets.Muang
painstakingly marked, coastal maps and even aKwantung (Guangzhou, China) is a city map of old
chart of a
battle plan!Muang Tawai (Tavoy, Myanmar) is theCanton, showing the Pearl River delta, location of
largest map on display,factories
at 4 x 5 m showing the western borderand buildings in the city. Purpose of antique
province of Kanchanaburi,Siamese mapsThe topography maps on border
River Kwai and Three Pagoda Pass, theareas with Burma and
traditional invasionCambodia, traditional foes, were obviously for
routes of Burma into old Siam. The area was themilitary
scene ofpurposes, the military routes and terrain features
frequent battles during the Siamese-Burmesemapped by
Wars in the reignmilitary commanders during campaigns to assert
of King Rama I.Saiburi (Alor Setar, Kedah) is theterritorial
only display that's not anclaims or suzerainty.
actual map but a detailed chart of a battle plan