The annual Phuket Heroines Festival, commemorating the Battle of Thalang, is being held at Victory Field in Tambon Thepkrasattri, with the traditional nightly re-enactment of the auspicious battle in 1785 taking centre stage.
Thai actresses Anyarin ‘Tubtim’ Terathananpat and Kessarin ‘Nui’ Ektawatkul are playing the lead roles in the historical drama, which has a cast of hundreds and is accompanied with an impressive light-and-sound show.
Nui, a 45-year-old film actress and former national taekwondo champion, is playing Thao Thepkrasattri, colloquially called ‘Ya Chan’ (pronounced ‘Jun’), while Tubtim, a 34-year-old actress most recently known for her role in the 2024 film ‘Mae Nak Talu Miti’, is portraying the younger sister Thao Sri Soonthorn, ‘Ya Mook’.
The tribute re-enactment is held over three nights, with the first performance on Thursday night and the final re-enactment tonight (Mar 15).
The traditional historical performance featured alongside cultural exhibitions, local food and OTOP product sales at the site.
THE LEGEND
The tale of the two sisters is well known, and well documented. Burmese invaders arrived and attacked villages on the island in the Nine Armies War during the reign of King Rama I.
In 1785, during the attacks on Southern Thailand, and especially along the Andaman coast, Lady Chan’s husband, Phraya Phimon, died, leaving the position of Governor of Thalang vacant.
Lady Chan had actually been placed under arrest due to “unresolved taxes” and was being held at Pak Phra (the name for Takua Thung in Phang Nga at the time) when the Burmese attacked there, and she fled back to Thalang.
Warned about more impending attacks on the island, Lady Chan and her sister, Mook, led the people in a successful resistance of the Burmese marauders, who were forced to retreat on March 13, 1785.
King Rama I honoured the sisters with the titles ‘Thao Thep Krasattri’ for Lady Chan and ‘Thao Sri Soonthorn’ for Lady Mook. It remains the only time such high royal titles have been bestowed to people outside the royal family.
THE MONUMENT
However, it is the monument at one of the most important crossroads in the province that most foreigners know best of the famed Phuket Heroines.
“The significance of the monument can be viewed in many ways. If you are from Phuket, you will see them as sacred objects of the province, or at least as important ancestral figures that people from Phuket respect and worship, explained Kan Rabsombat, Director of the Thalang National Museum.
“Another perspective is in terms of beliefs and local religions. In addition to the historical beliefs of Phuket, there are also rituals related to Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn which are performed at the provincial or city level. These two people are very important in terms of history and ethnic beliefs,” he added.
Construction of the monument was first initiated by a committee of local residents and officials on Jan 19, 1962. The Fine Arts Department assigned respected artist Sanan Silakorn as the sculptor in 1965, and the foundation stone was laid at the auspicious time of 9:09am on April 28, 1966.
The installation of the sculpture onto the pedestal was honoured nearly a year later, on Mar 24, 1967.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother presided over the grand opening ceremony of the monument on May 23 that year.
THE DESIGN
“The sculptures of Lady Chan and Lady Mook are cast in bronze, standing larger than human body size, at one and a half times the size of an average person,” Mr Kan explained.
Lady Chan and Lady Mook stand on a three-metre-high base, showing strength and determination. Lady Chan is on the right, while Lady Mook is on the left.
Both figures stand with confidence, wearing a Dok Krathum haircut, a loincloth, a long-sleeved shirt and a cloth draped in a ‘tabengman’ style. Each Heroine firmly holds a round-tipped sword in their right hand, facing north with a look of strong bravery.
Eluding most people is how the artist Sanan Silakorn came to create the faces of the two Heroines on the monument.
“From what I have seen in historical documents, people in Phuket selected the faces most commonly believed to be what the two sisters would have looked like, by considering the facial features of their descendants,” Mr Kan said.
“At that time, people from across the entire province had to select the faces for the sculptor. As for the gestures and postures, the sculptor came up with those by himself,” he added.
The construction process spanned many years, involving careful planning and significant financial efforts.
“Discussions on erecting the monument date back to the reign of King Rama VI, who emphasised the importance of honouring these sacrifice ladies figures,” Mr Kan noted.
“However, the project gained new momentum under Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, with initial funds raised through public donations and expenses carefully managed in stages,” he added.
The expenses were divided into several installments, starting from casting the metal, making the prototype and the cost of creating the base.
“The total construction cost was estimated at B106,000 [in 1967], which included B100,000 for the casting of bronze statues and B6,000 for the engraved inscription,” Mr Kan said.
The Fine Arts Department oversaw the project, ensuring the monument was built to honour the legacy of the two Heroines.
THE LOCATION
But the most common question most foreigners ask regarding the monument remains: ‘Why place it there?’
The monument is located at what is called the ‘Tha Reua Intersection’, where Thepkrasattri Rd meets Srisoonthorn Rd and the turnoff to Pa Khlok.
Positioned at the heart of Phuket, it serves as a site for people to pay homage to these revered heroines, Mr Kan explained.
“The monument’s location was carefully selected to ensure accessibility and visibility. The area chosen for the monument is historically significant. It was once an important economic hub and a transit route into Phuket,” he said.
“Initially, the roads were not as developed as they are today, and the monument served as a focal point for those entering the province. Over time, as Phuket grew, the monument became a landmark that embodies both history and modernity,” he added.
At one time, the intersection served more like a ‘semi-square’, Mr Kan said. “It is a public area where everyone can access the monument.”
“Thalang used to be a small town. As it developed, it caused traffic congestion. The reason that this site was chosen is because in the past there were no communities in the area, no Robinson Lifestyle mall and no big roads. It was a road that everyone had to pass before entering Phuket Town,” Mr Kan concluded.