Baan Muang Koong, the folk pottery village in Chiang Mai

As one travels towards Hang Dong along the Chiang Mai – Hod Rd., one cannot help but notice the infamously huge terracotta standing proudly on the right. This is Baan Muang Koong, a famous folk pottery village of Chiang Mai, their skills and wisdom passed down through the generations. Even today most of the villagers produce various kinds of earthenware, especially the water jug known as “Mor Nam Ton”.

The “Mor Nam Ton” is native and is used to contain drinking water. The production involves a low heat process so the clay is rough and porous, ideal for natural ventilation and retaining the coolness of fresh water.

In this village one can see the old kilns built over 150 years old and still used to this very day. It is a golden opportunity to see the pottery process, each and every process equally fascinating. You can even make a lovely pot of your own if you don’t mind getting dirty.

The village is continually developing its designs, patterns and color range to satisfy the wide market demand, Baan Muang Koong now an official OTOP village as recognized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Special Thank :
http://www.passport2002.com for information and photos

Related Clips Video: Art | Craft

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Hong Hian Sueb Sarn Lanna the Lanna Wisdom Institute

Break down the wall between Poh Khru and Mae Khru, masters of Lan Na art and culture, and learners; bring them together,” said one of the cofounders of Hong Hian Sueb Sarn Lanna, the Lanna Wisdom Institute, Mala Kamjan. He is renowned in the world of literature and was the winner of the 1991 S.E.A. Write Award.

Inheritors of Lan Na

The Lan Na region was formed a long time ago by several ethnic groups including Tai Yuan, Yong, Tai Lue, Pakayor, and hilltribes such as Akha and Lahu to name a few. The area was associated with its use of their rich natural resources in all aspects of their lives. The community developed its own culture and folk wisdom with its own cuisine, medicine, silk and cotton weaving, architecture, art, performance and entertainment.

However, the infl uence of other cultures gradually aff ected Lan Na’s own culture. These changed the Lan Na way of life and knowledge of it gradually disappeared. People weren’t so interested in learning about Lan Na culture, and unfortunately young people didn’t care about inheriting this folk culture.

For this reason, the Sueb Sarn Lanna Fair was born in 1997. The annual fair is a miniature display of Northern diversity, featuring the traditional culture of many ethnic groups. In 2000, the Lanna Wisdom Institute, an alternative learning forum which aims to pass on valuable folk wisdom and an eco-friendly

lifestyle to the next generations, had begun. It was founded on the words of Luang Por Pra Tham Di Lok, the venerable monk of Chedi Luang temple: “To hand down the reality of the folk wisdom will be to carry it on with every breath you take”.

The Wisdom School,

The school opened in 2000, with 85 learners (aged between 6 and 66). At present, 14 generations have graduated from the school. The Wisdom Classroom,
The Institute has a temporary open-air pavilion where students and teachers can meet. It is located on a plot of land behind Prince Royal School. Class Time Schedule: Saturday and Sunday, the time is fl exible (2 month course, THB400 per course only)

Wisdom Courses,
1. Lan Na language: also called Northern Thai or Kam Muang
2. Saw – A style of folk singing of Lan Na
3. Making Khom (lanterns) and Toong (hanging decorations)
4. Weaving
5. Wickerwork
6. Mould making
7.Carving
8. Lan Na drawings
9. Folk music
10. Lan Na dance
11. Lan Na sword dance
12. Klong Sabad Chai - Victory Drum Dance
13. Lan Na games: Mak Soom, Mak Beng, Ton Dok, Ton Phung
14. Mor Muang - Lan Na traditional medicine and theory
15. Pi Kho - A bamboo recorder
16. Local toy making
17. Local Agriculture
18. Forest Conservation
19. Lacquer ware

The 10th year of Lanna Wisdom Institute exhibition “Kad Muan – Kad Muang” The Lanna Wisdom Institute will host a Lan Na arts and culture exhibition throughout 2007. The exhibition will focus on and refl ect the worth of Lan Na culture and folk wisdom. It aims to pass on this treasure to new generations by having it presented as a Lan Na folk wisdom market and will include displays of traditional art and performances.

Show Time: Each and every month during 2007 (for more details, please see SVP Calendar) The school is looking for a way to fi nance the cost of curriculum development. Please give a donation if you can. Note: “Hong Hian” means school

For more information, please contact us at Lanna Wisdom Institute 35 Rattanakosin Rd., T. Wat Gate, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Tel. 66 5330 6387, 66 8 1530 8512 www.lannawisdoms.com Special Thanks: Khun Mala Kamjan Khun Boonrin Thongdeelert Khun Prasong Sangngam

Special Thank :
http://www.passport2002.com for information and photos

Related Clips Video: Wisdom

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Paper Lantern - Lan na artistry in the night mode

As the night falls on the Lan Na region duringthe full moon of the twelfth lunar month, the dark sky and deep river become decorated by the many thousands of lights in the Yi Peng festival. Though the Yi Peng festival is referred to as worship of the goddess of water as we know, there are other rituals which relate to the Lan Na buddhist beliefs that involve offering paper lanterns to Buddha.

These paper lanterns vary in appearance and patterns and differ from region to region in particular regard to their design and style. They are are all created from the same original style passed down from generation to generation, however, sometimes people have adapted the designs and made them into their own

style to make them look quite different. The arch of the paper lantern is made from light bamboo, pulled together by threads with the frame covered with sa paper (mulberry paper) – the decorations vary a lot.

Khom Man Pad Liam or the octagon shape paper lantern is one type of design from Lampang province. The Khom Man Pad Liam paper lantern shows a unique style of Lampang with its design being passed on with knowledge from one monk who made a pilgrimage to the north of the Shan State in Burma. The monk was interested in the lantern’s style, so he learned the process of making it with the local people. In 1954, after he went back to Lampang, he taught his disciples in the village. Two of three disciples were brothers Poh Suk Pintasee and Poh Boonmee Pintasee from Wang Mhor village, and they have handed own this knowledge others. The procedure of this lantern is so complex, especially with the three levels of octagonal arches and with different floral ecorations on each level. As well as the complicated design work, a special tool is needed to make perforations in the design.

Nowadays, Khom Man Pad Liam has had this knowledge handed down to him from from Poh Suk, Poh Boonmee Pintasee and Poh Tham Krueraya, and it is reputed of the elegance of this Lan Na art work. So, this is one way to preserve Lan Na culture and to maintain the Lan Na beliefs that the participant who makes and launches the lantern during this festival will get merit for their next life.

The esthetics of the lanterns’ appearance goes well with the Lan Na beliefs where it’s not just about beauty but there is a lot more to do with the value of the Lan Na culture as well as the Lan Na faith.

Special Thank :
http://www.passport2002.com for information and photos

Related Clips Video: Lantern, Float

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Lan Na Resource Center

As a part of the service sector of Chiang Mai University, the Northern Thai Information Center recognizes the need for it to be essential to have an ongoing center for searching and collecting information about Lan Na and the northern region. The Northern Thai Information Center was formed with the aim to be a center of general information resources. The range of information here covers all fi elds of Northern Thailand with comprehensive writings from well-known northern writers.

The center provides information divided into three different groups. The fi rst group is a collection of books, textbooks, reports and reference books, all classified with the Dewey decimal system along with manuscripts. The second group is rare books and annals are the third. Additionally, the center has another mission to support common user access by using a reference service and computers to manage the center with the CMUL OPAC (CMUL Online Public Access Catalog).

Special Thanks:
Khun Pensuwan Nakhapreecha (Director of Chiang Mai University Library)
Khun Wararak Pattanakiatpong (Librarian of Chiang Mai University Library)

Office Hours: During the term: Mon-Fri 08.00am – 09.00pm, Sat-Sun 10.00am – 06.00pm
During the term break: Mon-Fri 08.30am – 04.30pm Sat-Sun Closed Public Holidays: Closed

Northern Thai Information Center Chiang Mai University Library 239 Huay Kaew Road, A.Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50200
Tel. 66 5394 4514, 66 5394 4517 E-mail: wararak@lib.cmu.ac.th http://library.cmu.ac.th/north_present.html

Special Thank :
http://www.passport2002.com for information and photos

Related Clips Video: Lanna