pad yot (พัดยศ)

Thai. ‘Fan of rank’. A kind of fan attached to a stick and used in certain religious and in royal ceremonies. As a religious fan, it has an approximately 70 cm long handle and is used by high-ranking Buddhist monks when they are invited to perform religious ceremonies. It is also used to hide their face during certain prayers or in a ceremony when they preach in name of the Buddha, and thus not speak for themselves. Monastic fans of rank, are usually adorned with monastic emblems, such as the initials and personal logo of a high-ranking monk (fig.), or with royal emblems (fig.), often elaborately embroidered in brocade. Royal fans, on the other hand, are usually attached to a much larger handle of about two meters (fig.), and are used both decoratively and to be carried around in processions accompanying certain royals, sometimes to escort a royal palanquin or kaanhaam. They are usually carried by members of the military (fig.) or held by brahmin priests. In some way, they are similar to –and often used together with– the chattra (fig.). King Rama V had royal pad yot fans made to present to members of the royal family on special occasions, such as on royal birthday celebrations, royal coronation ceremonies, and at royal cremations. Wat Pahk Nahm Phasi Chareun in a royal temple in Bangkok, houses a large and colourful collection of religious pad yot fans. Also called talapat. See also POSTAGE STAMPS and TRAVEL PICTURE. 回