Yasothon (Thai ยโสธร) is a town in the Isan region of Thailand. It is the capital and administrative center of Yasothon province, and had a population of 21,134 in 2005. It lies a little more than 500 km northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok.

History

While there are Khmer ruins in and around the city, no written history is known prior to A.D. 1811/2354 B.E. In that year, Prince Rachawongsingh, son of King Wichai (Th: เจ้วพระยาวิชัยฯ), king in the capital of Champasak (Th: นครจำปาศักดิ์) led a number of people to found a town on a bluff beside a deserted temple ground with a landing on the River Chi (Th: แม่น้ำชี). The town was called Ban Singh Kow (Th: บ้านสิงห์เก่า Old Lion Village), or Ban Singh Tha (Th: บ้านสิงห์ท่า). (Pg.หน้าที่ 26, สำลี รักสุทธี, นิืทานพืนบ้านอีสานและตำนานการก่อตั้งจังวัด. กรุงเทพ ฯ พัฌนาศึกษา A Fine Arts Dept. marker for a chedi erected by Wat Singh Tha says that, during the Thonburi Era, grandson Kham Su [TH: ท้าวตำสู] called the settlement Ban Singh Thong [TH: บ้านสิงห์ทอง Ban Gold Lion]. The wat (Th: วัค), which had been deserted with dense jungle blocking the way to the river landing, was re-built and renamed after the new village. The change from Thong (Gold) to Tha (Th: ท่า ) was influenced by two factors: Tha means port or landing and also pose with many connotations. Thus the change in name to Singh Tha means Port Lion, and also Imposing Lion such as those posed on the Lion Gate, and on pedestals on the temple grounds. For the legendary version, see Yasothon province Symbols. (Continued from above reference.) In A.D. 1814/2357 B.E. during the reign of Rama II (1809-1824), Prince Praputthalertlanaphalai (Th: พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย) announced a change in the town's name to Meuang Yasothon (Th: เมืองยโสธร|Arrogant City), though the name proposed had been Meuang Yotsunthon [Thai: เมืองยศสุนทร|Most Gracious City). Prince Rachawongsingh also received a new title, Pra Sunthornrachawongsah (Th: พระสุนทรราชวงศา | Most Revered Person (of a) Harmonious Regal Dynasty) and continued as a country lord (Th: เจ้าเมอิง) [about equal to a French or English Count].

Yasothon Lord Bodintaradecha (Th: เจ้าพระยาบดินทรเดชา), also known as Singh from his family name (Th:สิงห์ ต้นสกุลสิงหเสนี), an accountant general (Th: สมุห์บัญชี) and army general (Th: แม่ทัพใหญ่) during the reign of Rama III (1824-1851), led an army from Bangkok to put down the rebellion of Lord Anouvong of Vientiane [Th: ปราบกบฎ (ปราบ กะบด) เจ้าอนุวงศ์ เวียงจันทน์] (1826-1828). General Singh then brought his army to Yasothon to rest. The campsite is marked by a nine-spired chedi at Wat Tung Sawang Chayaphum (Th: วัดทุ่สว่างชัยภูมิ | Bright field of victory). Yasothon also aided Bangkok in repelling Chinese invaders at Nong Khai during the Haw wars (Th: ปราบกบฏฮ่อ) (1865-1890).

In the reign of Rama V (1868-1910), before the establishment of Monthon (Th: มณฑล), Yasothon was included in the northwestern quarter of Western Laos (Th: หัวเมืองลาวฝ่ายตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือ). Yasothon was a Monthon from A.D. 1900/2443 B.E. until A.D. 1913/2456 B.E. when it was made an Amphoe and joined to Boriwen Ubon (Th: บริเวณอุบล ฯ) to form Ubon Ratchathani Province. In A.D. 1972/2515 B.E., the Amphoe was elevated to Yasothon Province.

The city has a significant Thai Chinese influence. The city pillar, erected in AD 1987/2530 BE a short walk from Wat Singh Tha, is housed in a shrine (ศาลเจ้าพ่อหลักเมือง) that resembles a Chinese temple. A Chinese warrior impersonates the city spirit in the annual parade celebrating the Chinese lunar date of the shrine's dedication.

Yasothon Rocket Festival

(See main article at Rocket Festival)

Yasothon's rocket festival (ประเพณีบุญบั้งไฟ Prapheni Bun Bang Fai |Tradition of Boon of Bong of Fire) is held annually over the weekend that falls in the middle of the month of May. The festival's origins lie in a custom of firing rockets into the sky at the start of the rice-growing season to remind King of the Sky, Phaya Thaen, to send promised rain. The festival is a competition marked by a weekend of celebration, including highly-decorated floats parading through the town, accompanied by partying, dancing, music, and a fair. Friday the main thoroughfare is transformed into a parade ground lined on both sides by concert stages, which will feature Mor lam performers throughout the night. Saturday sponsored parade groups compete for prizes. Many of the traditional dances and floats have to do with the legend of Nāng Ai and Phādāēng, but others have to do with that year's particular theme.

Sunday the action moves from the city center to Phaya Thaen Park at its eastern edge. The park is not only a beautiful playground with an athletic stadium and outdoor stage, it is also part of the city's flood-control project for those times when Phaya Thaen sends too much rain.

The festival now takes the form of a competition to see whose rocket will stay aloft for the longest time.

On May 10, 1999, the Yasothon Rocket Festival made world headlines when a 120 kg rocket exploded 50 meters above ground, just two seconds after launch, killing five persons and wounding 11.

Transport

Pedicabs serve within the city. Tuk-tuks are prohibited. Motorcycle taxis with yellow license plates and drivers with identifying vests do serve outlying areas and may take passengers about within the city limits. Several bus lines connect daily and at frequent intervals to Bangkok's Northeast Bus Terminal and Pattaya's Northern Terminal, as well as all bus terminals in the North and Northeast. Train and Air services connect Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, 100 kilometres east on Highway 23. Yasothon city is about 530 kilometres or 7 hours drive from Bangkok at the intersection of Highways 23 and 202, and the southern end of Highway 2169.

Places of interest

• Phra That Anon – a Thai chedi or stupa over 1000 years old, said to contain a relic of Ananda, a favoured disciple of the Buddha. An annual festival is held in March to honour the temple.
• That Kong Khao Noi – a chedi southwest of Yasothon by the village of Tat Thong (ตาดทอง), housing a statue of Buddha. Each April the statue is bathed in a ceremony to call for rains.
• Tat Thong is also an excavation site of a prehistoric settlement.

References

สำลี รักสุทธี,นิืทานพืนบ้านอีสานและตำนานการก่อตั่งจังวัด.--กรุงเทพ ฯ พัฌนาศึกษา, 2544 หน้าที่ 26 (Somlee Raksutthi: Country fables of Isan and histories of the provinces.--Bangkok; Wattanaseuksa, BE 2544, p.26)