Krabi: Unraveling the Origins of Its Name

Date: October 24, 2024 By BCT Transport Categories: Article Tags: tips No comments

Krabi

Krabi, a province long known but only recently understood for the origins of its name, might not derive from the word for “sword” as widely believed. There are three possible interpretations.

Krabi is a small province located

On the western coast of southern Thailand, along the Andaman Sea. In the past, Krabi was once a district governed under the jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat and was known as “Pakasae District.” Around 1872, King Chulalongkorn elevated its status to “Pakasae City” and later bestowed it with the name “Krabi.” The administrative center was established in Tambon Krabi Yai (Ban Talat Kao), now part of Mueang Krabi District, with Luang Thep Sena appointed as Krabi’s first governor. In 1875, the province was separated from Nakhon Si Thammarat’s control and became a fourth-class city reporting directly to Bangkok.

One popular legend behind the name “Krabi”

Suggests that villagers unearthed an ancient sword and presented it to the governor. Shortly after, another sword was found and similarly given to him. Recognizing their significance, the governor decided to keep the swords as sacred symbols for the city. Before the city’s construction was complete, the swords were stored in a cave at Khao Khanap Nam, a pair of mountains standing at the mouth of the Krabi River. The crossed swords became the emblem of Krabi province, with the mountains and sea as the backdrop. The villages where the swords were found were named “Ban Krabi Yai” (where the larger sword was discovered) and “Ban Krabi Noi” (where the smaller sword was found).

Another theory suggests that the name Krabi may have come from a local species of tree, Lumpee. The area where this tree was abundant was called “Ban Lumpee,” but as time passed, the pronunciation evolved through Malay and Chinese traders to “Ban Ka-Lu-Bi” or “Kolobi,” and eventually, it became “Krabi” in Thai.

A third theory associates

The name with the word for “monkey.” In ancient times, Krabi was part of the city “Banthai Samor,” one of the twelve zodiac cities under the rule of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which used a monkey as its emblem. According to legend, monkeys were considered brave warriors comparable to front-line soldiers, like the monkeys in Rama’s army. Elders in Krabi recall that the area was once populated with large numbers of monkeys, giving rise to this association.

Summary

In summary, the exact origin of the name “Krabi” remains uncertain, with several theories proposed:

1. Krabi may derive from the word for sword (krabi), preserving the meaning from its previous name “Pakasae,” which some scholars believe also referred to a sword.
2. The name could reference the swords found by villagers, later stored at Khao Khanap Nam, a symbol that still exists today.
3. Another theory links the name to a legend involving a battle between humans and giants, where the giants’ sword fell in Ban Krabi Yai, and the humans’ sword landed in Ban Krabi Noi.
4. The name might come from the Malay word “Garubi” or “Kolobi,” referring to the Lumpee tree, a local fruit-bearing plant.
5. Some suggest the name stems from “Krabue” (buffalo), as the area was once known for buffalo farming and had a bridge dedicated to transporting them.
6. Krabi could also mean “monkey,” from its connection to Banthai Samor, one of the twelve zodiac cities, which used a monkey as its symbol.
7. Another interpretation references two rivers originating from Phanom Bencha, with one flowing toward Huai To waterfall and becoming Khlong Krabi Yai, and the other forming Khlong Krabi Noi. Viewed from above, the rivers resemble shining swords, inspiring the name.

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