Bangkok--3 Nov--TAT
Something magical happens when travelling from Central or Southern Thailand to the north of the country. The fertile plains give way to misty mountains, the air gets fresher, the language of the inhabitants takes on a sing-song lilt, the pace of life becomes more laid-back and the curious customs of the locals generate a fascination with the culture.
‘Lanna’ means ‘a million rice fields’, reflecting the agricultural bounty of the area. In its golden age, the ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom extended from Laos to what is now the Shan States of Burma and included the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan and Phrae.
The inhabitants of Lanna come from a variety of ethnic origins, including Lawa, Mon, Tai Yuan and Tai Lu, but they have intermixed through the generations and are now known simply as khon muang, or ‘people of the principalities’.
The rural nature of life for the early inhabitants of Lanna encouraged both a co-operative attitude, especially at planting and harvesting time, and the practice of animism — making offerings to the spirits of nature and holding ceremonies in their honour. Many of these ceremonies, which are invariably colourful and joyful events, continue today and provide a clue as to why visitors find the culture of Lanna so exotic and enticing.
Professor Vithi Phanichphant from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University, a renowned expert on Lanna culture, attempts to pin down the essence of Lanna culture — the one thread that unifies the appealing landscapes, the lively ceremonies, welcoming temples, the flair for design in local crafts and impressive culinary skills.
“It’s refined simplicity,” he says. All creations in Lanna culture begin with a simple basic design that the artisans refine with their own special touches to make them unique.
For more information please contact:
TAT Northern Office — Region 1
Areas of responsibility: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son
E-mail: tatchmai@tat.or.th
Tel: 0 5324 8604, 5324 8607, 5324 1466
Fax: 0 5324 8605