朱拉隆功傳記

Chulalongkorn Biography

朱拉隆功傳記

朱拉隆功（1853-1910）於1868年至1910年間擔任泰國國王。

朱拉隆功於 1853 年 9 月 20 日出生於泰國曼谷（暹羅）大皇宮，是先皇國王的第九個孩子，也是王后所生的第一個兒子。因此，他從小就被視為王位的合理繼承人，尤其是歐洲列強的執政官，並接受了相應的教育。正是為了他和他的弟弟們，安娜·萊昂諾文斯 (Anna Leonowens) 被聘為宮廷家庭教師 (1862-1867)。她後來回憶說，這個瘦弱的年輕人勤奮好學，個性溫和，對眼前的責任充滿敬畏。這些事情比他預想的要早得多，當時他和父親去馬來半島觀看日食後，他和父親都染上了瘧疾，Mongkut 於 1868 年 10 月 1 日去世。

攝政時期

假設15歲的朱拉隆功也快要死了，當時最有權勢的政府官員、「總理」蘇里耶翁（Chang Bunnag）就親自策劃了朱拉隆功的王位繼承。他也安排自己被任命為攝政王，並任命朱拉隆功的表弟威猜佔王子為法定繼承人，他相信威猜佔在朱拉隆功死後可以被操縱。但朱拉隆功的健康狀況有所改善，他接受了公共事務方面的輔導，前往爪哇和印度觀察現代行政管理，並於 1873 年 11 月 16 日加冕為拉瑪五世國王。

改革政治

在他的兄弟和年輕朋友的支持下，國王於 1873 年開始嘗試實行集中預算和會計，精簡受拖延和腐敗困擾的司法系統，以此攻擊舊秩序的不公正和政治對手的權力。了由他的年輕朋友主導的協商立法委員會。這些行為，伴隨著威猜占前景的下滑，引發了1875年初的“前宮危機”，威猜佔逃到英國領事館並要求保護。如果獲得批准，泰國將成為名副其實的英法保護國。英國和法國拒絕支持各自的領事，將此事視為內部爭吵，朱拉隆功得以解決危機。然而，和平是以高昂的代價換來的，因為國王的支持者被解散，議會停止開會，十年來沒有進一步的改革。

從某些方面來說，接下來的十年是統治時期最關鍵的十年。朱拉隆功感到受到前攝政王和主導公職的老保守派的挫敗。就他們而言，他們比以往任何時候都更不信任他和他所認同的現代改革。當國王從 1879 年開始建立現代學校來教育公務員時，古老貴族家庭的子弟明顯缺席。國王期望得到支持的幾個小貴族家庭卻在公共醜聞中蒙羞。朱拉隆功發現，他只能依靠同父異母的弟弟（其中 26 人活到 1880 年代）來獲得受過良好教育和忠誠的領導。他監督他們的正規教育，並在他的私人秘書中與他們合作，評估他們的能力，然後將他們安排在他控制下的辦公室。他和他的兄弟一起在新的審計辦公室擔任職員，討論改進皇家衛隊以及最終改進軍隊的方法，並仔細了解外交事務和國內管理的所有細節。隨著老一代大臣相繼過世或退休，國王終於有機會發起改變。

朱拉隆功深信改革的正確性與必要性。他的父親向他灌輸了「正義國王」（dhammaraja）的佛教理想，而萊昂諾文斯夫人灌輸了類似的西方社會正義和民主思想，他真誠地致力於這些理想。同時，西方代表不斷提醒他，避免殖民控制的唯一希望在於進行深遠的改革，以促進西方商業滲透。 1875 年的危機讓國王痛苦地意識到自己權力的限制和保守派對手的實力，因此隨著地位的提高，他只能逐步緩慢地進行改革。然而，西方領事們卻很不耐煩，對泰國人試圖向他們隱瞞的這種緊張的政治局勢只是隱約地意識到。當朱拉隆功搬家時，已經太晚了。

政府改革

正如1873-1874年，當國王開始任命他的兄弟們接管舊部會時，他們中比較激進的人希望比他行動得更快。 1885 年 1 月 8 日，包括他的三個兄弟和五名具有外國經驗的官員在內的團體向他請願，要求建立君主立憲制和選舉產生的立法機構。他在溫和而深思熟慮的答覆中指出，在一個沒有受過教育、少數受過教育的精英完全參與行政管理的國家，議會民主尚不可能實現。他表示，立即需要的是一個「改革政府」。他在接下來的7年裡迅速建立了一個新的體系，逐步將年輕人安置在所有舊部會中，將部門從一個部會轉移到另一個部會，在職能上承擔集體責任，並親自監督新系統運行人員的培訓。

傳統泰國政府的六個部會是全能的，每個部會都有自己的稅收、法院、管理省份以及不受監督的支出權利；他們往往由北方大臣（mahathai）和南方大臣（kalahom）控制，而國王幾乎無力控制他們。 1892 年 4 月 1 日引入的新系統有 12 個功能明確的部門，對國王負責。 12 名大臣中有 9 名是國王同父異母的兄弟，他們作為內閣定期開會制定國家政策。

改革計畫的核心是內政部的工作，自 1892 年起由達姆隆·拉賈努巴 (Damrong Rajanubhab) 王子領導。透過將近 100 個省份劃分為 14 個“圈”，達姆隆能夠有效地利用極少數受過教育的年輕人，迅速加強曼谷對迄今半自治省份的控制。結果，國家收入在 7 年內翻了一番，新的行政結構在世紀之交將法治、公共工程和基礎公共教育帶到了最偏遠的省份。朱拉隆功的兒子拉比王子於 1896 年被任命為司法部長，到統治末期，所有泰國法律都按照歐洲的路線重新編纂，並引入了中央集權的現代司法體系。直到 1904 年，鐵路建設的資金全部來自經常收入，以前所未有的速度將國家緊密地聯繫在一起。國王非常謹慎地選擇執行這些任務的人員，並且每天專注於工作的進展。他鼓勵和支持他們中最有能力的人，讓他們放手一搏，同時不斷地刺激和批評那些不太果斷和平庸的人。

對外關係

直到1880 年代，朱拉隆功普遍認為他得到了西方列強的善意，並指望英國對泰國獨立的支持以及德瓦翁塞親王嫻熟的外交手腕，德旺塞親王於1886 年被任命為外交部長，標誌著改革的恢復。然而，從 1880 年代中期開始，法國在印度支那的野心開始與泰國對寮國的宗主權發生衝突。泰國無力阻止這些要求，最終升級為 1893 年的法泰戰爭，最終法國砲艇沿著昭披耶河強行到達曼谷，要求將湄公河東岸割讓給法國並支付巨額賠償。英國指望支持泰國，但拒絕幹預，寮國被割讓給法國。

朱拉隆功心灰意冷，陷入了長達一年的疾病和憂鬱之中。康復後，他開始採取主動並承擔他之前更願意與兄弟們分擔的責任。 1896 年的英法宣言保證了暹羅中部的完整，但使東北部受到法國的威脅，南部受到英國的威脅。朱拉隆功 1897 年的歐洲之行，除此之外，是為了確保歐洲對泰國的持續獨立產生新的興趣，特別是俄羅斯和德國的興趣。不管這次巡演是否達到了這個目的，它確實讓朱拉隆功有了新的自信，也認識到現代化並不一定意味著西化：「我們必須努力模仿別處好的東西，同時不僅要保留，還要保留。

在朱拉隆功統治的剩餘時期，泰國在外交事務領域最嚴重的問題的解決方面取得了迅速進展。 1904年和1907年，寮國湄公河西岸的小片地區和柬埔寨西部省份被割讓給法國，作為回報，泰國人重新獲得了對法國在泰國的亞洲臣民的合法管轄權。 1909 年，馬來亞四個州吉蘭丹、丁加奴、吉打和玻璃市割讓給英國，為泰國帶來了類似的法律讓步（儘管距離廢除治外法權還有幾十年的時間）和將鐵路延伸至新加坡的資金。最重要的是，當他統治結束時，國王感覺到他的國家的獨立終於穩固了。

個人生活

朱拉隆功的個人生活充滿了悲劇，其嚴重程度不亞於他成功克服的公共危機。他心愛的蘇南莎王后於 1880 年在划船事故中喪生；瓦吉魯希斯王儲於 1894 年去世。儘管他對自己的成就感到非常滿意，但他並不喜歡當國王。尤其是在1880年代，他喜歡隱姓埋名旅行，晚上會穿著農民的衣服在曼谷的貧民窟和街道上徘徊。有一次，他在沒有事先通知的情況下攔住了皇家遊行隊伍，參加了一場農民的婚禮。他的大量旅行日記中充滿了與農民的談話錄音，他們向他講述當地的民間傳說或抱怨當地的情況。他是一個興趣廣泛的人，他對改變的熱情並沒有削弱他對祖國傳統的欣賞。

朱拉隆功是一位在許多領域多產的作家。他的多卷書信以及 25 卷日記已出版。他的《遠離家鄉》是他 1908 年遊覽歐洲時寫給女兒的書信集，至今仍被廣泛閱讀。他的歷史研究《十二個月的皇家儀式》（1888 年撰寫）從未被取代。他最好的歷史作品是他對納林特威公主回憶錄的評論和1888 年的長篇《介紹政府改革的演講》。 1905 年）。在經歷了泰國歷史上最長的統治後，他於 1910 年 10 月 23 日去世。

關於朱拉隆功的進一步閱讀

沒有朱拉隆功的傳記。朱拉·查克拉邦瑟王子的《生命之主》（1960 年）有一篇關於朱拉隆功的長篇聖徒傳記章節，與朱拉隆功同時代的人在《二十世紀的暹羅JGD Campbell》（1902 年）中對朱拉隆功做出了很好的描述。第一個對朱拉隆功統治進行學術論述的是大衛‧懷亞特(David K. Wyatt) 所寫的《泰國的改革政治：朱拉隆功國王統治時期的教育》(1969) 。推薦閱讀 DGE Hall 的《東南亞歷史》（1955 年；第 3 版，1968 年）和 David J. Steinberg 的《尋找東南亞：現代史》（1971 年）來了解一般歷史背景。 □

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Chulalongkorn Biography

Chulalongkorn (1853-1910) was king of Thailand from 1868 to 1910. When Thailand was seriously threatened by Western colonialism, his diplomatic policies averted colonial domination and his domestic reforms brought about the modernization of his kingdom.

Born in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand (Siam), on Sept. 20, 1853, Chulalongkorn was the ninth child of King Mongkut but the first son to be born to a royal queen. He was thus regarded from an early age as the logical heir to the throne, especially by the consuls of European powers, and was educated accordingly. It was for him and his younger brothers that Anna Leonowens was engaged as governess at the court (1862-1867). She later recalled the slight and frail youth as studious, gentle, and awed by the responsibilities which lay before him. These came upon him much earlier than he expected when, after a trip with his father to the Malay Peninsula to view a solar eclipse, both he and his father fell ill of malaria and Mongkut died on Oct. 1, 1868.

Regency Period

Supposing the 15-year-old Chulalongkorn also to be dying, the most powerful government official of the day, the "prime minister" Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag), stage-managed the succession of Chulalongkorn to the throne. He also arranged his own appointment as regent and the appointment of Prince Wichaichan, Chulalongkorn's cousin, as heir apparent, confident that Wichaichan could be manipulated after Chulalongkorn's death. But Chulalongkorn's health improved, and he was tutored in public affairs, traveled to Java and India to observe modern administration, and was crowned king in his own right as Rama V on Nov. 16, 1873.

Politics of Reform

With the support of his brothers and young friends, the King began, in 1873, to attack the injustices of the old order and the power of his political rivals by attempting to impose centralized budgeting and accounting, streamlining a judicial system beset by delays and corruption, and inaugurating consultative legislative councils dominated by his young friends. These actions, accompanied by a decline in Wichaichan's prospects, brought on the "Front Palace Crisis" of early 1875, when Wichaichan fled to the British consulate and demanded protection; had it been granted, Thailand would have become an Anglo-French protectorate in all but name. Britain and France, by refusing to support their consuls, treated the matter as an internal quarrel, and Chulalongkorn was able to bring about a resolution of the crisis. Peace, however, was bought at a high price, for the King's supporters were disbanded, the councils ceased to meet, and no further reforms were undertaken for a decade.

The decade which followed was in some ways the most critical of the reign. Chulalongkorn felt thwarted by the former regent and older conservatives who dominated public office; and they, for their part, were more than ever distrustful of him and the modern reforms with which he was identified. When the king managed, from 1879, to begin establishing modern schools for the education of civil servants, the sons of the old noble families were conspicuously absent. Several lesser noble families from whom the King expected support disgraced themselves in public scandals. Chulalongkorn found that he could rely only on his younger half brothers—of whom 26 survived into the 1880s—for educated and loyal leadership. He supervised their formal education and worked with them in his personal secretariat to assess their abilities before placing them in offices under his control. Together he and his brothers labored as clerks in the new audit office, discussed means of improving the royal bodyguard corps and ultimately the army, and carefully kept abreast of foreign affairs and all the details of domestic administration. As the ministers of the older generation began to die or retire, the King at last had his opportunity to initiate change.

Chulalongkorn was convinced of both the rightness and the necessity of reform. His father had imbued him with the Buddhist ideals of the "just king" (dhammaraja), and Mrs. Leonowens with parallel Western ideas of social justice and democracy, and to these ideals he was genuinely committed. At the same time, he was constantly reminded by Western representatives that his only hope of avoiding colonial control lay in undertaking far-reaching reforms to facilitate Western commercial penetration. The crisis of 1875 had made the King painfully aware of the limits of his powers and of the strength of his conservative rivals, so that he moved only gradually and slowly to reform as his position improved. The Western consuls, however, were impatient and only dimly aware of this tense political situation, which the Thai tried to conceal from them; and by the time Chulalongkorn moved, it was almost too late.

Governmental Reform

As in 1873-1874, when the king began to take over the old ministries by appointing his brothers, the more radical among them wished to move faster than he did. A group including three of his brothers and five officials with foreign experience petitioned him on Jan. 8, 1885, for the creation of a constitutional monarchy and elective legislature. In a gentle and thoughtful reply he argued that parliamentary democracy was not yet possible in a country without education and in which the small educated elite was completely absorbed in administration. What was needed immediately, he stated, was a "reform government." He rapidly constructed one in the following 7 years by placing young men gradually in all the old ministries, by transferring departments from one ministry to another to group responsibilities functionally, and by personally supervising the training of the men who were to run the new system.

The six ministries of traditional Thai government had been omnicompetent, each with its own tax collections, law courts, provinces to administer, and rights to unsupervised expenditure; and they tended to be dominated by the minister of the North (mahatthai) and the minister of the South (kalahom), whom the King had been almost powerless to control. The new system, introduced on April 1, 1892, had 12 functionally defined ministries responsible to the King. Nine of the 12 ministers were half brothers of the King, and they met regularly as a cabinet to formulate state policy.

Central to the reform program was the work of the ministry of interior, directed from 1892 by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. By grouping almost 100 provinces into just 14 "circles," Damrong was able to make effective use of a very small body of educated young men in rapidly strengthening Bangkok's control over hitherto semiautonomous provinces. As a result, state revenues doubled within 7 years, and the new administrative structure brought the rule of law, public works, and elementary public education to the most distant provinces by the turn of the century. Chulalongkorn's son Prince Rabi was appointed as minister of justice in 1896, and all Thai law was recodified along European lines by the end of the reign, and a centralized modern judicial system was introduced. Railway construction, financed until 1904 entirely out of current revenues, rapidly linked the country together as never before. The King took great care in choosing the men for these tasks and followed daily the progress of the work. He encouraged and supported the most able of them and gave them a free hand, while ever goading and criticizing the less decisive and mediocre.

Foreign Relations

Until the 1880s Chulalongkorn generally could assume that he had the goodwill of the Western powers and counted on British support for Thai independence and upon the skillful diplomacy of Prince Devawongse, whose appointment as foreign minister in 1886 marked the resumption of reform. From the mid-1880s, however, French ambitions in Indochina began to clash with Thai rights of suzerainty over Laos. The Thai were powerless to halt the demands which escalated into the Franco-Thai War of 1893 and ended with French gunboats forcing their way up the Chaophraya River to Bangkok to demand the cession to France of the east bank of the Mekong River and the payment of a large indemnity. Britain, counted on to support the Thai, refused to intervene, and Laos was ceded to France.

Chulalongkorn was disheartened and went into an almost year-long period of illness and depression. Once recovered, he began to take initiatives and responsibility he had earlier been more willing to share with his brothers. The Anglo-French Declaration of 1896 guaranteed the integrity of central Siam but left the northeast threatened by France and the south by Britain. Chulalongkorn's European tour of 1897 was, among other things, an attempt to secure new European interest in Thailand's continued independence, especially on the part of Russia and Germany. Whether the tour achieved this object or not, it did give Chulalongkorn a new self-confidence and a realization that modernization did not necessarily mean Westernization: "We must try to imitate what is good elsewhere, and at the same time not only to keep but to develop what is good and worthy of respect in our own national character and institutions," he declared upon his return.

During the remainder of Chulalongkorn's reign rapid progress was made toward the resolution of Thailand's most serious problems in the field of foreign affairs. Small areas of Laos on the western bank of the Mekong and the western provinces of Cambodia were ceded to France in 1904 and 1907, and in return the Thai regained legal jurisdiction over French Asian subjects in Thailand. The cession to Britain of the four Malayan states of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah, and Perlis in 1909 brought Thailand similar legal concessions (although the abolition of extraterritoriality was still several decades away) and capital for the extension of the railways toward Singapore. Most of all, by the end of his reign the King could feel that his country's independence at last was secure.

Personal Life

Chulalongkorn's personal life was filled with tragedies no less severe than the public crises he successfully surmounted. His beloved Queen Sunantha died in a boating accident in 1880; Crown Prince Vajirunhis died in 1894. Of his 77 children (by four queens and many concubines, as was customary), only two-thirds lived to maturity. Though he took great satisfaction in his accomplishments, he did not enjoy being king. Especially in the 1880s, he was fond of traveling incognito and would wander the slums and streets of Bangkok at night clad as a peasant. He once stopped a royal procession to join, unannounced, a peasant wedding; and his numerous travel diaries are filled with recorded conversations with peasant farmers who told him local folklore or complained about local conditions. He was a man of broad interests, and his zeal for change did not diminish his appreciation of his country's traditions.

Chulalongkorn was a prolific writer in many fields. Numerous volumes of his correspondence, as well as 25 volumes of his diary, have been published. His Far from Home, the collection of letters written to his daughter when he toured Europe in 1908, is still widely read. His historical study The Royal Ceremonies of the Twelve Months (written 1888) has never been superseded. His best historical works are his commentary on the memoirs of Princess Narinthewi and his lengthy "Speech Introducing Governmental Reform" in 1888. He wrote much verse and drama, his best-known drama probably being Ngo Pa (1905). After the longest reign in Thai history, he died on Oct. 23, 1910.

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