Tens of thousands of Russian tourists annually visit this Asian country that knows a lot about rest and entertainment. But if you ask what the emblem of Thailand looks like, then not everyone will be able to remember, but remembering, describe the main emblem of the country. By the way, the official symbol of the Kingdom of Thailand is called the National Emblem, and not the coat of arms, as is customary in the vast majority of countries on the planet.
Coat of arms of Siam
In ancient times, the modern territory of Thailand was part of the powerful state of Siam. In addition to the Thai lands proper, it included the territories on which Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia are now located. The kingdom existed until 1932, from 1873 to 1910 one of the most beautiful coats of arms in the world operated in the country.
Its author was Sodakan, a Thai who lived in England. Therefore, the coat of arms was depicted in accordance with the best European traditions. It contains symbols of the Thai kingdom in combination with elements of the coats of arms of the countries of the Old World.
The main details of the coat of arms of Siam are:
- a shield divided into three unequal fields;
- chains of the Order of Nine Gems and the Order of Chula Chom Klao;
- six royal regalia, including the Great Crown of Victory, Sword of Victory, Royal seven-tiered umbrellas, shoes, wand, fan;
- mythological creatures in the role of shield holders;
- royal mantle.
The current National Emblem of Thailand looks different from the coat of arms of Siam, which can still be seen on the cap badges of Thai police officers. It also remains the official symbol of the Royal Military Academy.
Modernity and tradition
The national symbol of the modern Kingdom of Thailand is the image of Garuda, a figure of great importance in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. No wonder her image can be found on the coats of arms of Indonesia and the capital of Mongolia, the great Ulaanbaatar.
According to mythological ideas, the god Vishnu had his own mount. His role was played by Garuda, she not only transported the supreme deity, but also played the role of a source of additional strength for Vishnu.
Garuda is something in between a man and a bird, that is, from a higher being, it has a head, torso, arms, but at the same time a beak, not a mouth. From the eagle, Garuda got wings, tail, paws. The emblem of Thailand depicts the bird in the red and gold tones characteristic of the culture of Southeast Asia, in some elements there is a blue color.
