Research & Article

According to the traditional Palatine Law (Kot Monthian Ban), female dance-drama troupes were prohibited outside the royal court. However, this restriction was abolished during the reign of King Rama IV, leading to a shift in Lakhon Chatri from all-male to predominantly female performers. One of the most renowned centers of Lakhon Chatri is Phetchaburi province, which is celebrated for its distinctively elegant dance movements. The most famous troupe was led by Mom Muang, who inherited the tradition from Luang Aphai Phonlarak, the originator of Lakhon Phet, the Phetchaburi style of Lakhon Chatri.