Sepha ( th, เสภา, ) is a genre of Thai poetic

storytelling Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own stories or narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural pr ...

that had its origins in the performances of

troubadours A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a '' trobai ...

who stylized recitations were accompanied by two small sticks of wood (krap) to give

rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular re ...

and emphasis. The etymology of the word ''sepha'' is disputed.

Origins

The sepha genre was developed by

troubadour A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a '' trobair ...

s who recited episodes for local audiences, and passed on stories by word-of-mouth. By the eighteenth century, such performances had become the most popular form of entertainment in

Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

. The troubadours told the story in stylized recitation, using two small sticks of wood (krap) to give rhythm and emphasis. The performances typically lasted a full night. This genre later became known as sepha.

Etymology

The origin of the term ''Sepha'' is disputed. There is a musical form of the same name, but this seems unconnected.

Kukrit Pramoj Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj ( th, คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช, , ; 20 April 1911 – 9 October 1995) was a Thai politician, scholar and professor. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand 1973–1974. He was t ...

thought that sepha meant a jail and that the genre was developed by convicts in jail.

Sujit Wongthet Sujit Wongthes (or Wongthet) (b. 1945) is a Thai journalist, historian, and author. Biography Wongthes attended Silpakorn University, graduating from the archaeology program there. During his time at university, he wrote for the student journal ...

argued a connection to the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...

word sewa, indicating some original association with ritual. The genre sepha was confined to episodes of

Khun Chang Khun Phaen ''Khun Chang Khun Phaen'' ( th, ขุนช้างขุนแผน, ) is a long Thai epic poem which originated from a legend of Thai folklore and is one of the most notable works in Thai literature. The work's entire length is over 20,000 ...

until the Fourth Reign (1851–1868), when parts of the royal chronicles and a few other works were rendered in this form on royal commission.

References

* ''

Sepha Khun Chang Khun Phaen ''Khun Chang Khun Phaen'' ( th, ขุนช้างขุนแผน, ) is a long Thai epic poem which originated from a legend of Thai folklore and is one of the most notable works in Thai literature. The work's entire length is over 20,000 ...

''. 3 vols, Bangkok, Wachirayan Library, 1917–1918. Reprinted by Khurusapha. Includes Prince Damrong's preface on the history and background of the story.
draft translation of the preface
is available. * * {{cite journal , last = H.H. Prince , first = Bidya , year= 1941 , title= Sebha Recitation and the Story of Khun Chang Khun Phan , journal=

Journal of the Siam Society The ''Journal of the Siam Society'' (JSS) is a scholarly journal published by the Siam Society in Bangkok since 1904. History The ''Journal of the Siam Society'' is published by The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage in Bangkok, Thailand. At t ...

, volume= JSS Vol. 33.1b , issue= digital , page= image , no-pp= , publisher= Siam Society , url= http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1941/JSS_033_1b_PrinceBidya_SebhaRecitationAndKhunChangKhunPhan.pdf , access-date= August 8, 2014 , quote= ''Sebha'' may be defined for the purpose of this paper as story-telling by the recitation of rhymics previously composed. Epic poetry Thai culture Thai poetry Cultural history of Thailand