Photographic Essay Namphee, Uttradit Province, Thailand

[Nathaniel]

Monks shopping for small knives that Thai monks traditionally carried for protection, my fiance said

[Nathaniel]

Here are some pictures of a Namphee forge I went to down the road....

[Nathaniel]

Very Famous Thai Hero, Phraya Pichai from Uttradit Province, as seen on the back of a truck





Phraya Pichai
1741-1782 A.D.

The Siamese hero known as Phraya Pichai was born Thongdee Fan Kao in Uttarradit. As a young boy he loved Muay Thai boxing and studied with many teachers. When he was twenty years old he attended a Muay Thai contest in the town of Tak where he soundly defeated the local champion, a master named, Arjarn Nai Hao. This brought the notice of General Taksin who asked Nai Thongdee to join his army and be his personal bodyguard. He would eventually work his way up to the rank of commander-in-chief.

In 1773 using guerrilla tactics, Phraya (general) Nai Thongdee captured the city of Pichai, expelling the Burmese oppressors. Nai Thongdee went into battle with a Namphi sword named "Nantakawut" in his left hand and an ordinary sword in his right. After many fierce clashes, he slipped and used his ordinary sword to catch his balance by sticking its point into the ground. As he leaned on the sword it broke in half. Nai Thongdee fought on with both swords and he led his army to victory forcing the Burmese to flee back across the border.

As a result of this battle he was known as ‘Phraya Pichai Daab Hak’ (Daab Hak) meaning broken sword.

Taken from http://www.universalswordsman.com/ThaiQuotes2006.htm

[Nathaniel]

Small Phraya Pichai statue in a thai house I visited...outside of Uttradit Province...

[Nathaniel]

Here are the pictures of the Namphee sword and knife I bought there:

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