Late Ayutthaya Literrature (1620 - 1767)

The Late Ayutthaya Era began in 1620, the reign of King Songtham, and ended in 1767 when Ayutthaya fell to Burma the second time. Event between 1529 and 1620, a period of 91 years, were not conductive to the creation of literature. Thailand was in a state of war and under the influence of Burma from 1569 to 1592. The country returned to normalcy in the regn of King Song Dham. Literature was revived in 1620 and made rapid progress until 1767. During the 147 year period the Thais of Sri Ayutthaya produced many works of great literary value, some of these are Samudraghosa, a jataka tale in vers, and Anirut, a narrative poem based on Hindu mythology. The period roduced a variety of literary forms on a varity of subjects. New styles of poetry were created, based on traditional Indian verse. There was experimentation with rhyme and meter resulting in "kap ho khlong," a very intricate pattern of verse with one style of poetry embedded in another, "kolabot," word play in verse, "phleng yao," love letter in verse, and "niras," lament in verse. This experimentation stimulated interest in poetic form in succeeding generations of poets.