Yasothon
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Yasothon (, ) is a
town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
on the
Chi River The Chi River (, , ; , ) is the longest river flowing wholly within Thailand. It is long but carries less water than the second longest river, the Mun. The name of the river is "Mae Si" () in the Isan and Lao languages of the region, being tra ...
in the north-eastern region of
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. It is the
capital Capital and its variations may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** Capital region, a metropolitan region containing the capital ** List of national capitals * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Econom ...
and administrative center of Yasothon province and seat of its
city district A city district, also known as an urban district or neighbourhood, is a designated administrative division that is generally managed by a local government. It is used to divide a city into several administrative units. City districts are used ...
. In this district,
subdistrict A subdistrict or sub-district is an administrative division that is generally smaller than a district. Equivalents * Administrative posts of East Timor, formerly Portuguese-language * Kelurahan, in Indonesia * Mukim, a township in Brunei, Ind ...
Nai Mueang ( 'in town') incorporates the bounds of the town proper, which had a population of 21,134 in 2005. It lies north-east of
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
.


History


Founding

In 2354
B.E. A Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a college graduate majoring in an engineering discipline at a higher education institution. In the United Kingdom, a Bac ...
(1811 CE) Chao ('lord') Racha
Wong Wong or Mr Wong may refer to: Name * Wong (surname), a Chinese surname, listing people and fictional characters with the surname * Wong (Marvel Comics), manservant/mentor to Doctor Strange Sr./Jr. in Marvel Comics ** Wong (Marvel Cinematic Univer ...
Singh Singh ( IPA: ) is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Si ...
( — 'descended from lions') more often transliterated ''sing'', led his people to a landing on the River Chi, to found a town on a bluff near a deserted temple. The lion, Sing, was a son of
Chao Phraya 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 ...
Wichai () in the capital of Champasak (). The town was first called Ban Sing Kow ( 'old lion village') or Ban Sing Tha (). While there are numerous Khmer artifacts in and around the city, no written history is known prior to that year. A weather-worn and now nearly illegible marker erected by Thailand's Fine Arts department () for a Khmer chedi by Wat Sing Tha, related that during the
Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi () is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which is ref ...
Era, grandson Thao Kham Su () called the settlement Ban Sing Thong (). The
wat A wat (, ; , ; , ; ; , ) is a type of Buddhist and Hindu temple in Cambodia, Laos, East Shan State (Myanmar), Yunnan (China), the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Etymology The word ''wat'' is borrowed from the Sanskrit ''v ...
, which had been deserted until dense jungle growth blocked the landing, was cleared, re-built and renamed after the new village. The change from ''Thong'' ('gold') to ''Tha'' () was influenced by two factors: ''Tha'' means 'port' or 'landing'. and also ''pose'' with many connotations. Thus the change in name to ''Sing Tha'' means 'port lion', and also 'imposing lion' such as those posed on the Lion Gate, and on pedestals on the temple grounds.


Name changes

In 2357 B.E. (1814), King
Rama II Phutthaloetla Naphalai (born Chim; 24 February 1767 or 1768 – 21 July 1824), also known by his regnal name Rama II, was the second King of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 1809 to 1824. In 1809, Itsarasunthon succeeded his father R ...
announced a change in the town's name to
Mueang Mueang ( Ahom: 𑜉𑜢𑜤𑜂𑜫; ''mɯ̄ang'', ), Muang ( ''mɯ́ang'', ), Möng ( Tai Nuea: ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ''möeng''; ''móeng'', ), Meng ( zh, c=猛 or 勐) or Mường (Vietnamese) were pre-modern semi-independent city-states or princip ...
Yasothon (). The name proposed had been ''Mueang Yotsunthon'' (.) (The ''yaso'' part of the name translates as 'arrogant: one pretending to ''yot'' 'high rank'. This may not have been the intention: compare Yasodharapura and Yasovarman.) At the same time, the ''chao'' ('lord') of Yasothon received a new
style (manner of address) Address terms are linguistic expressions used by a speaker to start conversation or call someone. George Yule defines address form as a word or phrase that is used for a person to whom speaker wants to talk. Address forms or address terms are so ...
: ''Phra Sunthonratchawongsa'' (). Yasothon was successively governed by five Phra Sunthon Ratcha Wongsa: ''Singh'' or Sing, 1815–1823; '' Thao Sicha'', 1823; ''Fai'', 1823–1857; ''Thao Men'', 1857–1873; ''Suphrom'', 1873–1895. During the 1827–1829
Laotian Rebellion __NOTOC__ Lao may refer to: Laos * Something of, from, or related to Laos, a country in Southeast Asia * Lao people (people from Laos, or of Lao descent) * The Lao language * Lao Rongzhi (born 1974), Chinese female serial killer * Lao script, th ...
led by Chao Anouvong, Fai was active in encouraging left (eastern) bank people to migrate to establish their
muang Mueang ( Ahom: 𑜉𑜢𑜤𑜂𑜫; ''mɯ̄ang'', ), Muang ( ''mɯ́ang'', ), Möng ( Tai Nuea: ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ''möeng''; ''móeng'', ), Meng ( zh, c=猛 or 勐) or Mường (Vietnamese) were pre-modern semi-independent city-states or princip ...
on the right (western) bank of the
Mekong The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth-longest river and the third-longest in Asia with an estimated length of and a drainage area of , discharging of wat ...
. King
Rama III Nangklao (born Thap; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), also known by his regnal name Rama III, was the third king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. Nangklao was the eldest surviving son of King Rama II. ...
, in recognition of his achievements, also appointed him as ''chao muang'' of Nakhon Phanom, and he briefly governed both Yasothon and Nakhon Phanom. On 15 August 2011, a monument to Singh, the first Phra Sunthon Ratcha Wongsa, was erected on the grounds of Wat Srithammaram. The town's unofficial nickname is ''Mueang Yot Nakhon'' 'Proud capital'.


Bodindecha

Chao Phraya 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 ...
Bodindecha () (1777–1849), (
given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...
,
Singh Singh ( IPA: ) is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Si ...
or Sing;
family name In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...
, Singhaseni () was a
chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...
() and army general () during the reign of
Rama III Nangklao (born Thap; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), also known by his regnal name Rama III, was the third king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. Nangklao was the eldest surviving son of King Rama II. ...
(1824–1851). He led the army from
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
that put down the 1826–1828
Laotian Rebellion __NOTOC__ Lao may refer to: Laos * Something of, from, or related to Laos, a country in Southeast Asia * Lao people (people from Laos, or of Lao descent) * The Lao language * Lao Rongzhi (born 1974), Chinese female serial killer * Lao script, th ...
() of Chao Anouvong of
Vientiane Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...
(). General Sing then brought his army to Yasothon to regroup. The site is now
Wat A wat (, ; , ; , ; ; , ) is a type of Buddhist and Hindu temple in Cambodia, Laos, East Shan State (Myanmar), Yunnan (China), the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Etymology The word ''wat'' is borrowed from the Sanskrit ''v ...
Tung Sawang
Chaiyaphum Chaiyaphum (, ; , ) is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in northeastern Thailand, capital of Chaiyaphum Province. it had a population of 58,350, and covers the full ''tambon'' Nai Mueang of Mueang Chaiyaphum District. Chaiyaphum is 337 road kilom ...
( 'field of bright victory',) featuring a nine-spire chedi. The chedi contains the golden image of a captive, and near the south wall is a Buddha footprint. Camp Bodindecha (), west of the city proper in Ban Doet (), Tambon Doet, is named in his honor. The camp has been home to the
Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...
16th Infantry Regiment () since 23 December 1985.


Municipality

The local administration of Yasothon was created in 1944 as a subdistrict municipality. With the creation of Yasothon Province, the municipality was upgraded to a town municipality.


Chinese influence

The city has a significant
Thai Chinese Thai Chinese (also known as Chinese Thais, Sino-Thais) are persons of Chinese people, Chinese descent in Thailand. Thai Chinese are the largest mixed group in the country and the largest overseas Chinese community in the world with a popul ...
presence. The city pillar, erected in 2530 BE (1987), is housed in a shrine () that resembles a Chinese temple. A Chinese warrior represents the city spirit in the annual parade celebrating the Chinese lunar date of the shrine's dedication.


Rocket Festival

Yasothon's
Rocket Festival A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...
(, ) is held annually over a weekend that falls in the middle of May. The festival's origins lie in a custom of firing rockets into the sky at the start of the rice-growing season to remind King of the Sky, Phaya Thaen, to send promised rain. The
festival A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...
is a competition marked by a weekend of celebration, including highly decorated floats parading through the town, accompanied by partying, dancing, music, and a
fair A fair (archaic: faire or fayre) is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. Fairs are typically temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks. Fairs showcase a wide range of go ...
. Friday the main thoroughfare is transformed into a parade ground lined on both sides by concert stages, which features
mor lam Mor lam (Lao language, Lao: ໝໍລຳ; Isan language, Isan: หมอลำ ; , , ) is a traditional Culture of Laos, Lao form of song, song originating in Laos that is also popular in Isan, where the majority of the population is ethnic Lao. ...
performers throughout the evening. On Saturday, parade groups compete for prizes. Many of the traditional dances and floats have to do with the legend of Phadaeng Nang Ai, but others have to do with the year's particular theme. On Sunday, the action moves from the city center to Phaya Thaen Park at its eastern edge. The festival now takes the form of a competition to see whose rocket stays aloft the longest. On 10 May 1999, the Yasothon Rocket Festival made world headlines when a 120 kg rocket exploded 50 meters above ground, just two seconds after launch, killing four persons and injuring 11.


Tourism

In 2015, to encourage tourism, a 5 floor museum in the shape of a toad was erected.


Climate

Yasothon has three seasons: summer, rainy season (mansoon) and winter. Maximum temperature is 43 °C (109.4 °F) and minimum temperature is 11 °C (51.8 °F). Average relative humidity is 71.1%. Average rainfall for the years 2009–2013 was 1,600 millimetres per year.


Transport

Yasothon city is about or seven hours drive from Bangkok at the intersection of Routes 23 and 202, and the southern end of Route 2169. '' Samlo'' serve the city centre, where
tuk-tuk An auto rickshaw is a motorized version of the pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many other terms in various countries, including three-wheeler, Adaidaita Sahu, Keke-napep, Maruwa, auto, ...
s are prohibited. Motorcycle taxis with yellow license plates and drivers with identifying vests serve the city and outlying areas. Several bus lines connect daily and at frequent intervals to Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (, ), as well as all bus terminals in the north and northeast.
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, ...
is 100 kilometres east via Route 23. Yasothon's bus terminal re-located from the city centre to Route 23 Bypass just east of the Ban Kham Noi Junction with Vittaya Thamrong Road, Rte YS-2018.


References


External links

* {{coord, 15, 47, 50, N, 104, 08, 35, E, region:TH_type:city, display=title Populated places in Yasothon province Cities and towns in Thailand Isan