Born in early 19th-century Siam, his essays regarding the history of Thailand resulted in him producing a significant body of works across his career.

His mother and grandmother traced their lineage back to a minor Thai noble, and as such Kulap was able to enter the civil service at the age of 11.

[1] In the 1860s, Kulap left the monkhood and entered the employment of several British, American, and German firms that were operating in Thailand.

As a result of this new career, Kulap saw a drastic increase in his personal wealth, and working with foreign companies allowed him to travel to various European-administered cities in Asia.

[2][3] In 1897, Kulap founded his own journal, Sayam Praphet, which produced texts and moral pamphlets inspired by historical works from Siam's past.