ศาลาชุมนุม

[David and Bui]

A question about a sentence in a magazine:

"เหตุผลที่ พล.อ.สนธิ ต้องการขี่หลังเสือท่องยุทธจักร อาจจะมาจากเหตุปัจจัยหลายประการ อาทิ รู้สึกห่วงใยยิ่ง ต่อสวัสดิภาพตัวเอง

"There are several reason that General Sonthi needs to continue to ride the back of the tiger ________ . For example, he is very concerned about his personal welfare."

I cannot find the phrase "ท่องยุทธจักร". "ยุทธจักร" itself, from Domnern Sathienpong, is "warfare feud; circle, fraternity." Alternatively, is "ขี่หลังเสือท่องยุทธจักร" a separate idiom?

Thanks.

[Nan]

"ยุทธจักร" is the word which often used in Chinese novel when it's translated to Thai. In the Chinese novel it refers to the world of people who study about fighting, hmmm. not sure how to explain. Maybe Byran can explain this part to you better than me.

To me, I think the closest translation of "ยุทธจักร" is "arena"

ท่อง in this case means to wander, to wade.

"ท่องยุทธจักร" in this case means wading into political arena.

"ขี่หลังเสือ" - to be in the highest position of something or to be in the position that you can not give up easily.

"เหตุผลที่ พล.อ.สนธิ ต้องการขี่หลังเสือท่องยุทธจักร อาจจะมาจากเหตุปัจจัยหลายประการ อาทิ รู้สึกห่วงใยยิ่ง ต่อสวัสดิภาพตัวเอง

- The reason that General Sonthi wants to ride the back of the tiger and wading into political arena might come from many factors such as his concern about his personal welfare.

Hope this makes sense.

[David and Bui]

Nan,

Thank you; this was very helpful, especially the reference to the use of the term in the Chinese novels.

Is it possible that the phrase ขี่หลังเสือท่องยุทธจักร is also a veiled reference to Gen. Sonthi being courted by various former military generals to join their political parties and/or to head up one of the existing parties controlled by former military people?

I want to thank all of you, especially Nan and Bryan, for giving us insights into Thai langauge well beyond what the dictionaries can provide.