Khon

Khon is a masked dance-drama in Thailand, based on tales of the life of Phra Ram (also known as Rama), the hero and seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu. It is believed to have developed in the seventeenth century and became hugely popular in the early eighteenth century. Khon shares many similarities with the earlier nang yai shadow theatre, which also follows the ancient epic Ramakien. This guide will explore the stylistic characteristics of the dance-drama, the main characters, and the masks used in performance.

Terminology

• Nang Yai: a form of shadow play found in Thailand.
• Natasin: Thai classical dance.
• Phra Ram: the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu.
• Piphat: an orchestral ensemble in the classical music of Thailand.
• Ramakien: one of Thailand’s national epics and an important part of the Thai literary canon.
• Tableaux: performers freeze in poses that create a picture of one important moment in the play.
• Thotsakan: a 10-faced, green-skinned king of the demons and the antagonist in the Ramakien.
• Vishnu: one of the principal deities of Hinduism.

Key Dates & Events

• c.1529 - First mention of Khon in Thai literature's Lilit Phra Lo.
• 1687 - French diplomat Simon de la Loubère records a detailed account of a detailed battle scene during a Khon performance in Siam.
• 1965 - The National Theatre of Thailand opens.
• 2018 - Khon is included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.