Chaophraya Phrakhlang (, died 1805), personal name Hon (), was the '' Phrakhlang'' or Siamese Minister of Trade from 1782 to 1805. He was also a prominent Thai author. Hon was a son of Chaophraya Surabodinluechai the governor of Kamphaengphet in the

Thonburi Period The Thonburi Kingdom was a major Siamese kingdom which existed in Southeast Asia from 1767 to 1782, centered around the city of Thonburi, in Siam or present-day Thailand. The kingdom was founded by Taksin, who reunited Siam following the coll ...

during the reign of

King Taksin King Taksin the Great (, , ) or the King of Thonburi (, ; ; Teochew dialect, Teochew: Dên Chao; 17 April 1734 – 7 April 1782) was the only King of Thailand, king of the Thonburi Kingdom that ruled Thailand from 1767 to 1782. He had been an ar ...

. His paternal family was of Chinese descent. In Thonburi Period, Hon held the title of Luang Sorawichit (), a minor official in Uthaithani. During the Athi Wungyi's War in 1775, Luang Sorawichit Hon was assigned to guard the royal supply line at

Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Sawan (, ) is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in Thailand. The name literally means "Heavenly City". The city is the capital of Nakhon Sawan province, and covers the complete subdistrict (''tambon'') of Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nak ...

. Sorawichit Hon translated one of the Vetala Tales from Sanskrit into Thai and composed ''Inao'' (), a Thai version of

Panji tales The Panji tales are a cycle of Javanese stories, centred around the legendary prince of the same name (actually a title) from East Java, Indonesia. Along with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the tales are the basis of various poems, sculpture and ...

, in 1779. During the unrest at the end of Taksin's reign, he supported the Chaophraya Chakri, who took the throne and became King Rama I in 1782. Upon the ascension of

King Rama I Phutthayotfa Chulalok (born Thongduang; 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), also known by his regnal name Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom (now Thailand) and the first King of Siam from the reigning Chakri dynasty. He asce ...

, Luang Sorawichit Hon was appointed Phraya Phiphatkosa () the deputy Minister of Trade in 1782. However, in the same year, Phraya Phrakhlang the Minister of Trade, personal name Son, asked King Rama I for a pig head to be sacrificed in a ritual. King Rama I then considered Phrakhlang Son erratic and had him stripped of his position and title. Hon was appointed as the new Phraya Phrakhlang the Minister of Trade to replace Phrakhlang Son. During the Nine Armies' War in 1785, Phraya Phrakhlang Hon was assigned to lead the army of Prince Thepharirak to face the Burmese at Kamphaengphet and Tak. In 1788, when King Rama I led Siamese forces to attack

Tavoy Dawei (, ; , ; , RTGS: ''Thawai'', ; formerly known as Tavoy) is a city in south-eastern Myanmar and is the capital of the Tanintharyi Region, formerly known as the Tenasserim Division, on the eastern bank of the Dawei River. The city is about ...

, Phrakhlang Hon was the provider of supplies for royal army. Phraya Phrakhlang Hon was later elevated to the rank of ''

Chaophraya The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

''. Chaophraya Phrakhlang Hon is best known for his translation of foreign historical literature into Thai language including the Burmese ''

Razadarit Ayedawbon ''Razadarit Ayedawbon'' () is a Burmese chronicle covering the history of Ramanya from 1287 to 1421. The chronicle consists of accounts of court intrigues, rebellions, diplomatic missions, wars etc. About half of the chronicle is devoted to the ...

'', which he translated into Thai "Rachathirat" () in 1785, and Chinese ''Romance of Three Kingdoms'', which he translated into Thai prose work "Samkok" () in 1802. Phrakhlang Hon also composed his own original poetic works that based on Thai local tales and traditions including; * '' Kaki Kham Klon'' ( a retelling of the story of Kaki, based on the Buddhist text '' Kakati Jataka'') * Two '' rai yao'' chapters ("Kan Kuman" and "Kan Matsi") of the Vessantara Jataka Chaophraya Phrakhlang Hon died in 1805. Hon had a half-younger brother named Long who was much younger than Hon himself. Long was the Chaophraya Phollathep or Minister of Agriculture during the reign of

King Mongkut Mongkut (18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama IV. He reigned from 1851 until his death in 1868. The reign of Mongkut was marked by significant modernization initiatives and diplomat ...

. and he has a brother named Chid. Chid has the title of Phra Suwan Phakdi. After the fall of

Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or Ayuthia may refer to: * Ayutthaya Kingdom, a Thai kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 ** Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the old capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom * Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (locall ...

He moved to

Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani (, ) is one of the four main cities in Thailand's Isan region, alongside Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." Located on the Mun River in the southeastern Isan, ...

. Later, his descendants returned to serve in Rattanakosin.his great-grandson named Phra Maimanrajakich Surarithiruechai is the requester to use the surname "Maiman". So Chid and Hon is the ancestor of the Maiman family.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phra Khlang Hon, Chaophraya Thai poets Chaophraya Year of birth unknown 1805 deaths