The Solar Eclipse that Changed Thailand (1868)

The nineteenth century was an amazing time of transition globally as transportation, communication, and science more generally developed rapidly, including in Thailand. Two of my favorite stories from Thai history revolve around the 1868 solar eclipse that was seen in Southeast Asia. I thought about writing about these two stories in a single post but since more and more people are watching videos these days rather than reading, I thought I would make a short video. It turned out to be just over 3 minutes and I have linked it below for your education and entertainment. However, if you prefer reading or happen to be looking at this blog in a place where it would be awkward to turn up the volume on your device, just scroll down to read the transcript. Enjoy!

Click Here to Watch on YouTube

Video Transcript:

In 1868, King Mongkut of Thailand had a dispute with his court astrologers. And it wasn’t the first time. Mongkut was adopting Western science which conflicted with the cosmology of 19th century Buddhism. He loved calculating the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. But he rejected the idea that celestial phenomena had any effect on human affairs. Many in his court thought otherwise.

In 1868, Mongkut calculated that a solar eclipse would occur on August 18th and he traveled to the beachside village of Wah Koh in Southern Thailand to observe it. The court astrologers calculated it differently and Mongkut wanted to prove them wrong. On August 18th, King Mongkut was in Wah Koh and saw the eclipse happen exactly as he had predicted. He returned to Bangkok triumphantly and derided the astrologers who had been proven wrong. King Mongkut was taking Buddhism into the modern era. Buddhist philosophy and spirituality would be kept, but cosmology and astrology that conflicted with modern science would be abandoned.

Meanwhile, in the far north of modern day Thailand, the eclipse had a very different impact.

In the city of Chiang Mai, American Presbyterian missionary Daniel McGilvary was having discussions with a Northern Thai man called Nan Inta. A staunch Buddhist and former abbot, Nan Inta had come to McGilvary for medicines and became intrigued with the new faith he preached. Though it contradicted the fundamentals of his religion, could it be true that he could receive a free and full pardon of his sins through the merits of another? The two men also debated geography and the natural world, including the nature of eclipses. Nan Inta had learned that an eclipse was caused by a supernatural monster eating the sun. But McGilvary claimed that modern science enabled him to predict that day and time that the next eclipse would occur.

As King Mongkut eagerly awaited the eclipse along the beach in Southern Thailand, Nan Inta did likewise in the mountainous North.

The timely arrival of the eclipse shook Nan Inta to the core. Afterwards, he spent a sleepless night thinking about what it could mean. If his books had been wrong about the eclipse, were they also wrong about religion? Early the next morning Nan Inta came to see McGilvary. His first words were, “Mên tê” (It’s really true). “The teacher’s books teach truth” he said, “Ours are wrong.” Nan Inta was the first person in Northern Thailand to become a Christian and his conversion opened the way for others to follow.

One eclipse. Two men. Two different results. Many forces have contributed to the shape of modern day Thailand. But in its time, a single solar eclipse played its part in changing worldviews and opening options of belief and disbelief for future generations.

To learn more about the history of Thailand and Christianity in Thailand, please visit thaichurchhistory.com or check out the articles and books linked below:

Karl Dahlfred, “The Peculiar Conversion of Nān Inta, the First Christian in Northern Thailand” 

Thanet Aphornsuvan, “The West and Siam’s quest for modernity: Siamese response to nineteenth century American missionaries.” South East Asia Research 17.3 (November 2009): 401-32.

Karl Dahlfred, Daniel McGilvary: Pioneer Missionary to Northern Thailand ~ Available on Kindle and paperback https://amzn.to/4bvJxfj (associate link)

Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit, A History of Thailand (4th Edition) ~ Available on Kindle and paperback https://amzn.to/3yarDQR (associate link)