Monthon (Thai: มณฑล) were administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word monthon is a translation of the word mandala (maṇḍala, literally "circle"), in its sense of a type of political formation. The monthon were created as a part of the Thesaphiban (เทศาภิบาล, literally "local government") bureaucratic administrative system, introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab which, together with the monthon, established step-by-step today's present provinces (changwat), districts (amphoe), and communes (tambon) throughout Thailand. Each monthon was led by a royal commissioner called Thesaphiban (เทศาภิบาล), later renamed to Samuhathesaphiban (สมุหเทศาภิบาล). The system was officially adopted by the 1897 Local Administration Act, after some monthon had been established and administrative details were sorted out.
Before the Thesaphiban reforms, the country consisted of partially independent cities called mueang, some directly subordinate to the capital, some subordinate to larger mueang, or to one or more of the tributary kingdoms. Before the reforms, governors inherited their posts from their family lineage, and lived on taxes they collected in their area, a practice formally called tax farming. These were converted from hereditary governors to appointed governmental posts, as had been done by Chinese Yuan, Ming, and Qing-era rulers in first recognizing Tusi (tribal leaders) as imperial officials, then replacing them with imperial appointees. The arrangement resulted in governors being appointed and paid by the central government, and mueang developed into provinces. An essential step in the ending of tax farming was the creation on 3 September 1885 of the Royal Survey Department. Though its first fruits were not obtained until 1901, the department's cadastral surveys, i.e., surveys of specific land parcels, made possible the defining of ownership for land registration and equitable taxation. The term changwat (จังหวัด) for the provinces was first used in 1907 for the provinces in Monthon Pattani, and by 1916 had come into general use.
Resistance to reform
It took till around 1910 to implement the system throughout the country. The main reason for the slow implementation was the lack of suitably educated officials,[1] but also the resistance of the traditional local leaders, which recalled the 1768–1770 resistance of the monk Chao Phra Faang to Thonburi reestablishment of Siamese authority. In 1902 along both banks of the Mekong, local revolts (Prakottakan Phi Bunปรากฏการณ์ผีบุญ) led by charismatic religious leaders called holy man or phi bun (ผีบุญ) broke out. The most serious of these was led by east-bank rebel Ong Keo against French authority in the former Thai tributary kingdom of Champasak. On the west bank in the area of Ubon Ratchathani, a less-well known former monk and phi bun headed a millenarian sect inspired by his apocalyptic prophecies, which spread fear, uncertainty and doubt among almost all the peoples along both banks of the river. The Bangkok government put down west bank resistance with little use of force, and cooperated with French Indochina officials insofar as limiting Thai authority to the west bank, later called Isan. East bank resistance however had no definitive end and became subsumed into the Second Indochina War.[2][3] Far from the Mekong, resistance to reform continued into the 21st century in the Southern Thailand insurgency.
Further development
In 1915 there were 19 monthons containing 72 provinces. Due to economic problems, several monthon were merged in 1925. Monthon Phetchabun had been dissolved in 1915. Only 14 monthon remained: Ayutthaya, Bangkok (Krung Thep), Chanthaburi, Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Phayap, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Prachinburi, Ratchaburi, and Udon Thani. In 1932 another four were abolished: Chanthaburi, Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Sawan, and Pattani.[4] Finally in 1933 the whole monthon system was abolished by the Provincial Administration Act 2476 B.E./A.D. 1933, part of the changes made after the coup d'état, which changed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy, and the 70 provinces to second-level administrative divisions.
List of monthons
North
Map of Siam in 1900
Map of Thailand 1915
Phayap (Thai: มณฑลพายัพ): Sanskrit Northwest.[5] or Monthon Lao Chiang (Thai: มณฑลลาวเฉียง). In 1899, this northwestern monthon was described in Thai as monthon fai tawan tok chiang nuea (มณฑลฝ่ายตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ; literally "northwest-side circle"). In 1900, this was shortened to the Sanskrit for "northwest". The actual administrative reform was established gradually between 1907 and 1915, succeeding the previous high commissionership. It covered the northern principalities of former Lan Na, the provinces Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Nan, and Phrae.
Maharat (Thai: มณฑลมหาราษฎร์): Monthon Maharat was created in 1915, when Monthon Phayap was split into two halves. It covered the eastern part of former Phayap, i.e., the provinces Chiang Rai, Nan, Lampang, and Phrae.
Phitsanulok (Thai: มณฑลพิษณุโลก): Monthon Phitsanulok was established in 1894. It covered the provinces Phitsanulok, Phichai, Phichit, Sukhothai, Sawankhalok.
Phetchabun (Thai: มณฑลเพชรบูรณ์): Monthon Phetchabun was split off from Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima in 1899. It consisted of the two provinces Lom Sak and Phetchabun, which were later merged. It then became the only monthon covering a single province. It was temporarily included into Monthon Pitsanulok from 1903 to 1907, before it was finally abolished in 1915 and incorporated into Monthon Phitsanulok.
Northeast
Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: มณฑลนครราชสีมา): Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima was the first monthon to be created in 1893. It covered the provinces Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Buriram, Chaiyaphum. In 1899 Monthon Phetchabun was split off from Khorat.
Isan (Thai: มณฑลอีสาน): Monthon Isan was established in 1900. In June 1912 it was split into the two parts, Monthon Roi Et and Monthon Ubon.
Roi Et (Thai: มณฑลร้อยเอ็จ): Monthon Roi Et was split from Monthon Isan in 1912. It contained the provinces Roi Et, Kalasin, and Maha Sarakham.
Phuket (Thai: มณฑลภูเก็ต): Monthon Phuket was established in 1898, succeeding a previously established commissionership. It consisted of the provinces Phuket, Thalang, Ranong, Phang Nga, Takua Pa, Krabi, Kelantan, and Terengganu.[6] In 1909 Satun was added when most of the area of Monthon Kedah along with Kelantan and Terengganu were ceded to Britain.
Chumphon (Thai: มณฑลชุมพร): Monthon Chumphon was established in 1896 consisting of the provinces Chumphon, Chaiya, Kanchanadit, and Lang Suan. Chaiya and Kanchanadit were later merged into one province named Chaiya. In 1905 the monthon administration was moved to Ban Don, the center of Chaiya province. Together with the renaming of Chaiya to Surat Thani the monthon was renamed "Monthon Surat". In 1925 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Pattani (Thai: มณฑลปัตตานี): Monthon Pattani was created in 1906, and covered the so-called Seven Malay ProvincesPattani (Tani), Yala, Sai Buri, Yaring, Nong Chik, Raman, Ra-ngae. In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat.[4]
Syburi (Thai: มณฑลไทรบุรี): Monthon Syburi was established in 1897. It covered the provinces Kedah, Perlis. and Satun. In 1909 Kedah was ceded to Britain. Satun, as the only remaining province, was added to Monthon Phuket.
Central
Krung Thep (Bangkok; Thai: มณฑลกรุงเทพ): The area around the capital was under the control of the Ministry of Urban Affairs, however a similar administration was established with the Monthon Krung Theb in 1897. It consisted of the provinces Phra Nakhon, Thon Buri, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phra Pradaeng (Nakhon Khueankhan), Samut Prakan, Thanyaburi, Min Buri. Pathum Thani and Thanyaburi later transferred to Monthon Ayutthaya. In 1915 it was renamed Krung Thep Phra Maha Nakhon (Bangkok metropolis). In 1922 the Ministry of Urban Affairs was dissolved and put under the Ministry of Interior, like all the other monthon.
Ayutthaya (Thai: มณฑลอยุธยา): Monthon Ayutthaya was created in 1893 as Monthon Krung Kao (Thai: มณฑลกรุงเก่า, Old Capital Monthon), consisting of the provinces Ayutthaya, also called Krung Kao or "old capital", Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Phrom Buri, Sara Buri.
Nakhon Chai Si (Thai: มณฑลนครไชยศรี): Monthon Nakhon Chai Si was established in 1895, consisting of the provinces Nakhon Chai Si, Samut Sakhon, and Suphan Buri. In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Ratchaburi.[4]
Burapha (Thai: มณฑลบูรพา): Monthon Burapha was established in 1896, and covered the provinces Sisophon, Battambang, Phanomsok, and Siammarat, all in modern-day Cambodia. In 1907 the area was ceded to French Indochina.
Chanthaburi (Thai: มณฑลจันทบุรี): Monthon Chanthaburi was established in 1906, covering the provinces Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Trat. The monthon was created just before the area of monthon Burapha was ceded, and the French returned Trat Province to Thai authority. In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Prachinburi.[4]
Boriwen
The larger monthon Phayap, Udon Thani, and Isan had an additional administrative level between monthon and provincial administration. Three to five boriwen (บริเวณ), each administered by a commissioner (khaluang boriwen, ข้าหลวงบริเวณ).
^W. G. Johnson (2008) [1908]. "Education". In Wright, Arnold; Breakspear, Oliver T. (eds.). Twentieth century impressions of Siam(PDF). London: Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Co. p. 276. Retrieved January 28, 2012. Siam has progressed so rapidly of late years, and the machinery of Government has been reorganised and perfected so quickly, that it requires all the efforts of the Education Department to produce from its schools the supply of men capable of taking up the posts in the Government service
^. blog (in Thai). @cloud. Archived from the original on January 22, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2011. เป็นกระทงร้อน มากกว่า 2 ปีพจนานุกรมฉบับราชบัณฑิตยสถาน ให้ความหมายของ ผีบุญ ไว้ว่า ผู้อวดคุณวิเศษว่ามีฤทธิ์ทําได้ต่าง ๆ อย่างผีสางเทวดาให้คนหลงเชื่อ
^Murdoch, John B (1974). "The 1901-1902 Holy Man's Rebellion" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. Siam Heritage Trust. 62 (1). Retrieved 2 April 2013.
^ abcde"ประกาศ เรื่องยุบรวมท้องที่บางมณฑลและบางจังหวัด" [Notice: Abolition of some monthons and provinces] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 48: 576–578. 21 February 1931. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
Tej Bunnag (1977). The Provincial Administration of Siam, 1892-1915: the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-580343-4.
Tej Bunnag (2005). การปกครองระบบเทศาภิบาลของประเทศสยาม พ.ศ. 2435–2458 [The Provincial Administration of Siam, 1892–1915: the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab] (PDF) (in Thai) (2nd ed.). Bangkok: Thammasat University Press. ISBN9745719374.
External links
January 20, 2023
monthon, thai, มณฑล, were, administrative, subdivisions, thailand, beginning, 20th, century, thai, word, monthon, translation, word, mandala, maṇḍala, literally, circle, sense, type, political, formation, monthon, were, created, part, thesaphiban, เทศาภ, บาล, . Monthon Thai mnthl were administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century The Thai word monthon is a translation of the word mandala maṇḍala literally circle in its sense of a type of political formation The monthon were created as a part of the Thesaphiban ethsaphibal literally local government bureaucratic administrative system introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab which together with the monthon established step by step today s present provinces changwat districts amphoe and communes tambon throughout Thailand Each monthon was led by a royal commissioner called Thesaphiban ethsaphibal later renamed to Samuhathesaphiban smuhethsaphibal The system was officially adopted by the 1897 Local Administration Act after some monthon had been established and administrative details were sorted out Administrative Division of Siam in 1900 Contents 1 History 2 Resistance to reform 3 Further development 4 List of monthons 4 1 North 4 2 Northeast 4 3 South 4 4 Central 4 5 East 5 Boriwen 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHistory EditFurther information Mueang Southeast Asian political model and Tusi The Establishment of Monthons in 1893 Before the Thesaphiban reforms the country consisted of partially independent cities called mueang some directly subordinate to the capital some subordinate to larger mueang or to one or more of the tributary kingdoms Before the reforms governors inherited their posts from their family lineage and lived on taxes they collected in their area a practice formally called tax farming These were converted from hereditary governors to appointed governmental posts as had been done by Chinese Yuan Ming and Qing era rulers in first recognizing Tusi tribal leaders as imperial officials then replacing them with imperial appointees The arrangement resulted in governors being appointed and paid by the central government and mueang developed into provinces An essential step in the ending of tax farming was the creation on 3 September 1885 of the Royal Survey Department Though its first fruits were not obtained until 1901 the department s cadastral surveys i e surveys of specific land parcels made possible the defining of ownership for land registration and equitable taxation The term changwat cnghwd for the provinces was first used in 1907 for the provinces in Monthon Pattani and by 1916 had come into general use Resistance to reform EditIt took till around 1910 to implement the system throughout the country The main reason for the slow implementation was the lack of suitably educated officials 1 but also the resistance of the traditional local leaders which recalled the 1768 1770 resistance of the monk Chao Phra Faang to Thonburi reestablishment of Siamese authority In 1902 along both banks of the Mekong local revolts Prakottakan Phi Bun praktkarnphibuy led by charismatic religious leaders called holy man or phi bun phibuy broke out The most serious of these was led by east bank rebel Ong Keo against French authority in the former Thai tributary kingdom of Champasak On the west bank in the area of Ubon Ratchathani a less well known former monk and phi bun headed a millenarian sect inspired by his apocalyptic prophecies which spread fear uncertainty and doubt among almost all the peoples along both banks of the river The Bangkok government put down west bank resistance with little use of force and cooperated with French Indochina officials insofar as limiting Thai authority to the west bank later called Isan East bank resistance however had no definitive end and became subsumed into the Second Indochina War 2 3 Far from the Mekong resistance to reform continued into the 21st century in the Southern Thailand insurgency Further development EditIn 1915 there were 19 monthons containing 72 provinces Due to economic problems several monthon were merged in 1925 Monthon Phetchabun had been dissolved in 1915 Only 14 monthon remained Ayutthaya Bangkok Krung Thep Chanthaburi Nakhon Chaisi Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Si Thammarat Pattani Phayap Phitsanulok Phuket Prachinburi Ratchaburi and Udon Thani In 1932 another four were abolished Chanthaburi Nakhon Chaisi Nakhon Sawan and Pattani 4 Finally in 1933 the whole monthon system was abolished by the Provincial Administration Act 2476 B E A D 1933 part of the changes made after the coup d etat which changed from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy and the 70 provinces to second level administrative divisions List of monthons EditNorth Edit Map of Siam in 1900 Map of Thailand 1915 Phayap Thai mnthlphayph Sanskrit Northwest 5 or Monthon Lao Chiang Thai mnthllawechiyng In 1899 this northwestern monthon was described in Thai as monthon fai tawan tok chiang nuea mnthlfaytawntkechiyngehnux literally northwest side circle In 1900 this was shortened to the Sanskrit for northwest The actual administrative reform was established gradually between 1907 and 1915 succeeding the previous high commissionership It covered the northern principalities of former Lan Na the provinces Chiang Mai Lamphun Mae Hong Son Lampang Chiang Rai Nan and Phrae Maharat Thai mnthlmharasdr Monthon Maharat was created in 1915 when Monthon Phayap was split into two halves It covered the eastern part of former Phayap i e the provinces Chiang Rai Nan Lampang and Phrae Nakhon Sawan Thai mnthlnkhrswrrkh Monthon Nakhon Sawan was created in 1895 and was thus among the first created It covered the provinces of Nakhon Sawan Chai Nat Kamphaeng Phet Manorom Phayuha Khiri Sankhaburi Tak Uthai Thani In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Ayutthaya 4 Phitsanulok Thai mnthlphisnuolk Monthon Phitsanulok was established in 1894 It covered the provinces Phitsanulok Phichai Phichit Sukhothai Sawankhalok Phetchabun Thai mnthlephchrburn Monthon Phetchabun was split off from Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima in 1899 It consisted of the two provinces Lom Sak and Phetchabun which were later merged It then became the only monthon covering a single province It was temporarily included into Monthon Pitsanulok from 1903 to 1907 before it was finally abolished in 1915 and incorporated into Monthon Phitsanulok Northeast Edit Nakhon Ratchasima Thai mnthlnkhrrachsima Monthon Nakhon Ratchasima was the first monthon to be created in 1893 It covered the provinces Nakhon Ratchasima Khorat Buriram Chaiyaphum In 1899 Monthon Phetchabun was split off from Khorat Isan Thai mnthlxisan Monthon Isan was established in 1900 In June 1912 it was split into the two parts Monthon Roi Et and Monthon Ubon Roi Et Thai mnthlrxyexc Monthon Roi Et was split from Monthon Isan in 1912 It contained the provinces Roi Et Kalasin and Maha Sarakham Ubon Thai mnthlxubl or Monthon Laokao Thai mnthllawkaw Monthon Ubon was split from Monthon Isan in 1912 It included Ubon Ratchathani Khukhan Sisaket and Surin Udon Thai mnthlxudr or Monthon Lao Phuan Thai mnthllawphwn Monthon Udon was established in 1899 It contained the provinces Udon Thani Khon Kaen Loei Nakhon Phanom Nong Khai and Sakon Nakhon South Edit Phuket Thai mnthlphuekt Monthon Phuket was established in 1898 succeeding a previously established commissionership It consisted of the provinces Phuket Thalang Ranong Phang Nga Takua Pa Krabi Kelantan and Terengganu 6 In 1909 Satun was added when most of the area of Monthon Kedah along with Kelantan and Terengganu were ceded to Britain Chumphon Thai mnthlchumphr Monthon Chumphon was established in 1896 consisting of the provinces Chumphon Chaiya Kanchanadit and Lang Suan Chaiya and Kanchanadit were later merged into one province named Chaiya In 1905 the monthon administration was moved to Ban Don the center of Chaiya province Together with the renaming of Chaiya to Surat Thani the monthon was renamed Monthon Surat In 1925 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat Thai mnthlnkhrsrithrrmrach Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat was established in 1896 consisting of the provinces Songkhla Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phattalung Pattani Thai mnthlpttani Monthon Pattani was created in 1906 and covered the so called Seven Malay Provinces Pattani Tani Yala Sai Buri Yaring Nong Chik Raman Ra ngae In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat 4 Syburi Thai mnthlithrburi Monthon Syburi was established in 1897 It covered the provinces Kedah Perlis and Satun In 1909 Kedah was ceded to Britain Satun as the only remaining province was added to Monthon Phuket Central Edit Krung Thep Bangkok Thai mnthlkrungethph The area around the capital was under the control of the Ministry of Urban Affairs however a similar administration was established with the Monthon Krung Theb in 1897 It consisted of the provinces Phra Nakhon Thon Buri Nonthaburi Pathum Thani Phra Pradaeng Nakhon Khueankhan Samut Prakan Thanyaburi Min Buri Pathum Thani and Thanyaburi later transferred to Monthon Ayutthaya In 1915 it was renamed Krung Thep Phra Maha Nakhon Bangkok metropolis In 1922 the Ministry of Urban Affairs was dissolved and put under the Ministry of Interior like all the other monthon Ayutthaya Thai mnthlxyuthya Monthon Ayutthaya was created in 1893 as Monthon Krung Kao Thai mnthlkrungeka Old Capital Monthon consisting of the provinces Ayutthaya also called Krung Kao or old capital Ang Thong Lop Buri Phrom Buri Sara Buri Ratchaburi Thai mnthlrachburi Monthon Ratchaburi was created in 1895 and covered the provinces Ratchaburi Kanchanaburi Samut Songkhram Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Nakhon Chai Si Thai mnthlnkhrichysri Monthon Nakhon Chai Si was established in 1895 consisting of the provinces Nakhon Chai Si Samut Sakhon and Suphan Buri In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Ratchaburi 4 East Edit Prachinburi Thai mnthlpracinburi Monthon Prachinburi was established in 1893 covering the provinces Prachin Buri Chachoengsao Nakhon Nayok and Phanom Sarakham Burapha Thai mnthlburpha Monthon Burapha was established in 1896 and covered the provinces Sisophon Battambang Phanomsok and Siammarat all in modern day Cambodia In 1907 the area was ceded to French Indochina Chanthaburi Thai mnthlcnthburi Monthon Chanthaburi was established in 1906 covering the provinces Chanthaburi Rayong and Trat The monthon was created just before the area of monthon Burapha was ceded and the French returned Trat Province to Thai authority In 1932 the monthon was incorporated into Monthon Prachinburi 4 Boriwen EditThe larger monthon Phayap Udon Thani and Isan had an additional administrative level between monthon and provincial administration Three to five boriwen briewn each administered by a commissioner khaluang boriwen khahlwngbriewn See also EditAdministrative divisions of Thailand Mandala Southeast Asian political model Mueang Native Chieftain System Past provinces of Thailand Royal Thai Survey DepartmentReferences Edit W G Johnson 2008 1908 Education In Wright Arnold Breakspear Oliver T eds Twentieth century impressions of Siam PDF London Lloyds Greater Britain Publishing Co p 276 Retrieved January 28 2012 Siam has progressed so rapidly of late years and the machinery of Government has been reorganised and perfected so quickly that it requires all the efforts of the Education Department to produce from its schools the supply of men capable of taking up the posts in the Government service bthkhwam praktkarnphibuy blog in Thai cloud Archived from the original on January 22 2010 Retrieved September 21 2011 epnkrathngrxn makkwa 2 piphcnanukrmchbbrachbnthitysthan ihkhwamhmaykhxng phibuy iwwa phuxwdkhunwiesswamivththithaidtang xyangphisangethwdaihkhnhlngechux Murdoch John B 1974 The 1901 1902 Holy Man s Rebellion PDF Journal of the Siam Society Siam Heritage Trust 62 1 Retrieved 2 April 2013 a b c d e prakas eruxngyubrwmthxngthibangmnthlaelabangcnghwd Notice Abolition of some monthons and provinces PDF Royal Thai Government Gazette 48 576 578 21 February 1931 Retrieved 15 April 2020 Glenn Slayden ed 1982 phayph Dictionary Royal Institute Dictionary Thai language com Retrieved 2013 09 29 1982 phayph pha yb Sanskrit wayw y wa khxngwayu nam chuxthistawntkechiyngehnux Malaysian States Retrieved 13 May 2017 Further reading EditDamrong Rajanubhab 2002 ethsaphibal Thesaphiban PDF in Thai Bangkok Matichon ISBN 9743227814 Tej Bunnag 1977 The Provincial Administration of Siam 1892 1915 the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab Kuala Lumpur Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 580343 4 Tej Bunnag 2005 karpkkhrxngrabbethsaphibalkhxngpraethssyam ph s 2435 2458 The Provincial Administration of Siam 1892 1915 the Ministry of the Interior under Prince Damrong Rajanubhab PDF in Thai 2nd ed Bangkok Thammasat University Press ISBN 9745719374 External links EditHistory of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monthon amp oldid 1133066102, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
