When Personal and National Grief Unite: The Unique Case of the Death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

The study aims to present the unique case of national grief following the death of the Thai King who is perceived as the father of the nation. Twenty faculty members and students at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, reflected on their feelings and future concerns through narratives and drawings. Phenomenological analysis yielded that the national grieving melted into personal loss. Analysis of the drawings revealed two artistic themes: boundaries around the main image of the picture, and the minimalistic use of symbols and colors. The narratives and drawings were found to validate each other concerning the personal versus the national grief.