Lao National Anthem
| English: Lao National Anthem | |
|---|---|
| ເພງຊາດລາວ | |
National anthem of Laos | |
| Lyrics | Sisana Sisane, 1975 |
| Music | Thongdy Sounthonevichit, 1941 |
| Adopted | 1945 |
| Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band instrumental rendition
| |
The Lao National Anthem[a] was first adopted as the national anthem of the Kingdom of Laos in 1945. It was written and composed in 1941 by Thongdy Sounthonevichit. After the Laotian Civil War and the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1975, the original lyrics were revised by Sisana Sisane, and these lyrics remain in use to this day.[1]
History
In 1893 Laos became a protectorate of France within its colonial empire. The French claimed that their annexation was to protect Laos from "hostile neighbours" such as Qing China – and especially Siam, which had been militarily forced to cede Laos to the European colonial power. In reality, France simply ruled Laos as a colony, bringing in Vietnamese to work in its governing. The transferring of control from one master to another meant that nationalist sentiment did not develop as it did in formerly independent Vietnam. The outbreak of World War II saw the fall of France to Nazi Germany. The right-wing government in Siam saw this as a possible opportunity to regain formerly Thai territory lost to France, especially the land located on the Thai side of the Mekong River. To counteract this, the French colonial government began promoting the re-emergence of Lao nationalism.[3]
Due to this liberalisation, some patriotic songs were composed, each one emphasising Lao "uniqueness".[4] The Lao National Anthem was one of them, having been composed by Thongdy Sounthonevichit in 1941,[5] with lyrics written by Maha Phoumi Chittaphong under the title "The Lao Patriot" (French: Le patriote Lao).[6] It was chosen as the national anthem in 1945,[1] when the king was forced by Japanese occupiers to declare Laos independent from French rule. France regained control of French Indochina after Japan's surrender in 1945.[3] In 1947 France granted limited autonomy to Laos within the French Union, and the Lao National Anthem was officially adopted.[7]
When the Pathet Lao emerged victorious in the Laotian Civil War in 1975, thanks to North Vietnamese assistance, the communist government abolished the monarchy and changed the lyrics to reflect the ideology of the Marxist government.[8] As a result, the National Anthem became all-encompassing and egalitarian, mentioning all ethnic groups in Laos, instead of focusing on solely the Lao people and Buddhism. The melody was retained.[9]
Lyrics
Current official
Lao original
| Lao script[10][11] | Latin script[12] | IPA transcription[b] |
|---|---|---|
ຊາດລາວຕັ້ງແຕ່ໃດມາ |
Sā̂t Lāo tângtę̄̀ dàimā |
[sâːt̚ lāːw tâŋ.tɛ̀ː dàj.māː] |
English translation
- For all time, the Lao folk
- have glorified their motherland.
- United in heart –
- spirit and vigour as one.
- Determined to move forward,
- upholding the Laotians' grace.
- Proclaiming their right to sovereignty,
- equal are Laotians of every race.
- No more shall imperialists
- and traitors trample them.
- Every Lao shall defend
- the independence of Laos.
- They'll battle for victory,
- and lead the nation to prosperity.
Original lyrics (1947–1975)
Lao original
| Lao script | Latin script | !IPA transcription[b] |
|---|---|---|
ຊາຕລາວຕັ້ງແຕ່ເດີມມາ |
Sā̂t Lāo tângtę̄̀ dơ̄mmā |
[sâːt̚ lāːw tâŋ.tɛ̀ː dɤ̄ːm.māː] |
English translation
- Once our Laotian race
- in Asia highly honoured stood.
- And at that time the folk
- of Laos were united in love.
- Today they love their race
- and rally 'round their chiefs.
- They guard the land and
- the religion of their ancestors.
- They will resist each foe
- that may oppress them or invade.
- And such invaders will
- be met with battle unto death.
- They'll restore the fame of Laos
- and through ills united stand.
Notes
References
- ^ a b "Laos". The World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ Hymnes et Pavillons d'Indochine (in French). Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Philosophie, histoire, sciences de l'homme, 4-LK10-918: Imprimerie d'Extrême Orient. 1941.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b "History of Laos". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ Raffin, Anne (2005). Youth Mobilization in Vichy Indochina and Its Legacies: 1940 to 1970. Lexington Books. pp. 137–38. ISBN 9780739111468. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ Doedan, Matt (2007). Laos in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 69. ISBN 9780822565901. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "ປະເທດລາວ ໑໙໕໐ Laos mil neuf cent cinquante". Hymnn Lao. Government of Laos. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Kutler, Stanley I., ed. (1996). "Laos". Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Retrieved 9 May 2013. (subscription required)
- ^ Holt, John Clifford (2009). Spirits of the place: Buddhism and Lao religious culture. University of Hawaii Press. p. 133. ISBN 9780824833275. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ St. John, Ronald Bruce (11 January 2013). Revolution, Reform and Regionalism in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Routledge. ISBN 9781134003464. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "ປະຕູເອເລັກໂຕນິກ ລັດຖະບານລາວ". Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Laotian National Anthem (Pheng Xat Lao)". ASEAN Learning Center, Department of Local Administration. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Lao Romanization Table, 2012 version" (PDF). The Library of Congress.
External links
- A video of "Pheng Xat Lao", broadcast on Lao National Television (LNTV) on YouTube
- A recording of "Pheng Xat Lao"'s pre-communist version, c. 1950s on YouTube
- Michael Sauser and Gilbert Greeve - Sauser and Greeve sing the anthem on their CD "Hymnen der Welt: Asien"
- "Pheng Xat Lao" at empas.com
- Dookola Swiata - This travel website has an instrumental version of the Anthem, as an .asx file.