The 2026 Royal Barge Procession Beyond the exquisite beauty of the royal barges, another essential element is the “ boat chanting verses ”—poetic compositions crafted to suit each royal ceremony's occasion and significance. Among those playing a key role in creating these verses since 1996 is Rear Admiral Thongyoi Saengsinchai. He has been a significant contributor to composing boat chants since 1996.
Thairath Online invites you to get to know Rear Admiral Thongyoi Saengsinchai, a former Pali scholar with the highest degree, who became a royal ceremony boat chant composer, conveying the beauty of the Thai language through valuable literary arts over a creative journey spanning 30 years.
The 2026 royal ceremony boat chants were newly composed by Rear Admiral Thongyoi Saengsinchai, who has created boat chants for important royal ceremonies since 1996, continuing for 30 years. The 2026 boat chant is divided into four parts, namely:
Rear Admiral Thongyoi Saengsinchai was born on 20 June 1945 in Ratchaburi province. He is the son of Mr. In and Mrs. Muead Saengsinchai. His wife is Mrs. Sudjai Saengsinchai, formerly Intasiri, and they have three children.
He is a retired naval officer whose last position was Director of the Chaplain Corps at the Naval Education Department before retiring in 2005.
Besides his naval career, he is an expert in Thai language, Pali, and literary arts, with works including poetry, boat chants, Buddhist literature, and teaching language and literature to various organizations.
He began his studies by ordaining as a novice monk in 1961, studying Pali at Nong Krathum Temple before moving to Mahathat Temple in Ratchaburi. He passed the three levels of Buddhist studies and earned the third-level Pali scholar certificate in 1965, receiving the ecclesiastical title“Phra Maha Thongyoi.”
In 1972, he attained the ninth-level Pali scholar certificate, the highest rank in the national Pali examination. During his monastic studies, he developed an interest in composing various poetic forms and was given the Dharma name“Warakawintho,”meaning“the excellent poet.”This reflects his early passion for language and literary arts during his monastic years.
In 1973, he traveled to India to pursue a master's degree in history at Magadh University but had to return to Thailand due to unrest that closed the university. He completed a bachelor's degree in political science from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 1987.
After disrobing in 1974, Rear Admiral Thongyoi began working as a researcher at the Phumipol Bhikkhu Foundation for Buddhist studies before joining the National Library Department of Fine Arts as an ancient language scholar in 1978.
In 1981, he entered naval service as a chaplain, serving in various units including the Marine Corps, Naval Academy, and Naval Education Department, eventually becoming Director of the Chaplain Corps in 2003.
Throughout his military career, he consistently produced literary works, composing poetry for important naval occasions, including boat chants used in the Royal Barge Procession.
His significant breakthrough as a royal ceremony boat chant composer came in 1996 with the “Kanchanaphisek Boat Chant.” This work won first prize in a competition to compose verses for the Narai Song Suban royal barge of King Rama IX and to praise the royal grace.He later added four more verses, totaling five, used during the Royal Barge Procession on 7 November 1996. Since then, he has been commissioned to compose boat chants for many royal ceremonies and important occasions. The Navy has released his notable works including:1996: Kanchanaphisek Boat Chant
1999: Honorific Boat Chant for the 6th cycle birthday celebration
Rear Admiral Thongyoi Saengsinchai
continues to create literary and linguistic works, especially royal ceremony boat chants. These works showcase his literary talent and mastery of the Thai language, enriching the Royal Barge Procession's beauty and playing a vital role in preserving royal traditions and Thailand's valuable cultural heritage. Source: Royal Thai Navy