Edge Tong

Long ago, in a magical underwater cave located deep under the water, crocodiles were found. Inside the cave floated a magical crystal ball, bright as sunshine in the daytime. The owner of the crocodiles, who ruled this cave, bore the name Chalawan (Thai: ชา ละ วัน), after the name of this cave. Every crocodile that climbed into a cave turned into a man and did not need food.

Chalavan got his opportunity to control the cave from his grandfather, after the death of his father in a battle with two other crocodiles. He had two crocodile wives living with him in an underwater cave. With his aggressive nature and his need for excellence, wives were not enough for him. Unlike his grandfather, who lived according to the Buddhist precepts, Chalavan wanted to eat human flesh.

In these times, Fichit provinces were rumored that crocodiles hunted people who lived near the canal. One day, the two daughters of a rich man named Phichite, Tapao Kau (Thai: ตะเภา แก้ว) and Tapao Thong (Thai: ตะเภา ทอง), wanted to play on the channel. They did not listen to the warning of the father and entered the water. Chalawan, who came out of his cave in a crocodile form to catch people, saw two daughters and fell in love. He then abducted and dragged into the cave of Tapao Thong.

When Tapao Thong woke up in a cave, she was amazed by her inner beauty. Chalawan, already in beautiful human form, tried to make Tapao Tonga fall in love with him. However, he failed. Then Chalawan cast a spell on Tapao Tong so that she fell in love with him and agreed to become his wife.

Meanwhile, when a rich man Phichite discovered that one of his daughters was carried off by a crocodile, he was very sad and announced that anyone who could beat the crocodile and return his daughter would be rewarded with great treasures and could marry his other daughter Tapao Kau. However, no man could defeat Chalavan.

Mural showing Edge of Tonga battling Chalawan at Samut Songkram

Krai Tong lived in Nonthaburi, who was trained to defeat crocodiles and mastered these skills well. He volunteered to defeat Chalavan and return Tapao Thong. Edge Tong sailed from Nonthaburi to Fichita to fight Chalawan with the help of a magic dagger donated to him by his teacher Hong.

Before the arrival of the Land of Tonga, Chalavan was already dreaming of death. He told his grandfather that he had a dream. This was a prophecy. The grandfather told Chalavan to stay in the cave for seven days. If Chalawan had left the cave, he would have faced a mortal threat.

The next morning, Edge Thong began to cast spells on a raft floating above the Chalawana Cave. Krai Thong's spell reached Chalavan, the crocodile lord began to feel impatient and could not stay in his cave. Chalawan floated to the surface and ran into Edge Tong. The battle began immediately. Krai Thong attacked first, slaughtering Chalawan with a dagger.

Chalawan, who was badly wounded, retreated to his cave. Both his wives asked for help from his grandfather, but he could not help. Kray Tong dived into the water and followed Chalawan into the cave. When he entered there, he met Vimila (Thai: วิ มาลา), one of the crocodile wives. Edge Tong flirted with Vimal until she ran into the cave.

Krai Thong followed Vimal to the cave and met the wounded Chalawan there in human form. The battle between two people began again. Chalavan could not resist Krai Thongu and lost to him. The edge of Thong finished off Chalavan and returned to the surface with Tapao Thong. Then Tapao Tong returned to his father, who was happy to see that his daughter was alive. Edge Tong was awarded treasure and both daughters.

The plot of the Edge of Tong in Thailand at different times were feature films and television films:

• The film Edge Thong (1958).
• The film Chalawan (1972).
• Film Edge Tong (1980).
• Edge Tong 2 (1985) - the sequel to the previous film
• TV Film Edge Tong (1995) on channel 7 TV.
• Kray Tong (2001) - kinoremeyk. In the role of the Edge of Tonga - Winai Kraibutr; Chalawana - Jet Padoongtum ^[1] .
• TV Film Edge Tong (2017) - Channel 7 TV.

Edge Tong was a real person without magical fairy tale power. He was a native of Nontaburi, worked as a merchant and hunter for crocodiles. After the locals from Nonthaburi learned about the heroism of Krai Thong, they erected a temple dedicated to his courageous deed ^[2] . The temple is called Wat Bang Krai Nai, it is located near the village of Krai Tonga. The story also reflects what the old Thais had with animals. People believed that crocodiles and people can have relationships, and crocodiles have the same feelings as people ^[3] .

1. Permkaset N. Edge Tong. Thai literary reference book. Anthropological center of Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn .
2. Boomgaard P. (2007). Crocodiles and people in Southeast Asia: four centuries of coexistence and confrontation . Researchgate.net.
3. Wongthes S. (2017). Birthplace of Krai Thong; Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi. Matichon online
4. Smithies M. Likay: A Note on the Origin, Form, and Future of the Siamese Folk Opera (pp. 48-59). Siamese heritage
5. Achathewan P. (2013). Krai Thong. Pathum Thani: Skybook. Print.