สำนักงานราชบัณทิตยสภา

106  The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 As clearly seen, King Rama VI contributed greatly to both Thai literature and the performing arts from the time he was the Crown Prince of Siam and during his reign as King of Siam. His setting up of the Taweepanya club and later on the Wannakhadi Samoson (Literature Club) helped promote both the performing arts and literature in Thailand. The art of Khon, drama and music fl ourished during his time as never before. It was the fi rst time that artists, expecially of Khon, were granted nobility and were highly respected in society. They were given lodgings built expecially for them in or near the palace. Musicians of traditional music and modern music also enjoyed support. A special school was set up for the teaching of the performing arts. Offspring of of fi cials could be sent to this school where they learned to become artistes as well as well-educated persons. For they also studied knowledge as taught in normal schools. It was King Rama VI’s opinion to have them trained in formal education as well as in the performing arts, so that both kinds of knowledge would enrich each other and make the students more outstanding as individuals (Dhanit Yupho, 1995: 91). It is a pity, however, that after King Rama VI passed away, this kind of support for performing arts stopped abruptly. It was considered too costly for the country when it suffered fi nancial troubles during the reign of King Rama VII. The Department of the Performing Arts was dissolved. Artistes had to leave their Figure 5: Phra Rung: a patriotic drama By Courtesy of the National Archives King Rama VI’s Promotion of Khon and Drama in General