Research & Article

The objectives of this study were 1) to study the local history of Chiang Rai Old Town, and 2) to explore and mapping cultural resources in Chiang Rai Old Town by using qualitative research methods along with the quantitative research protocol, physical survey and prepare an assessment using Likert Scale, in-depth interviews with Chiang Rai municipality officials, grandchildren of Chiang Rai city bosses, the eighteen of villagers and local scholars. Analyzing the data by using information from the document, data from the field and then process analyzing and qualitative analyzing in order to gather basic information on local history and the importance of cultural resources.

The research results were as follows: 1) The local history of Chiang Rai old town in 4 periods, the first period, Chiang Rai city during Mangrai period (B.E. 1805 –2347), the second period, Reviving the veil to the creation of Chiang Rai in Rattanakosin era (B.E. 2386 - 2441), the third period, Chiang Rai in the era of reforming Monthol Thesapiban and urban growth (B.E. 2442-2475), the fourth period, Chiang Rai community after the government changing into the present era of Chiang Rai (B.E. 2475- present) 2) Results of the survey of all 981 cultural resources, assess and select 51 important cultural resources in the mapping such as 1) eleven places of temples and religious sites, 2) twelve places of city walls and moats, 3) three places of museums and city squares, 4) six places of government buildings and educational institutions, 5) one place of city highlight place, 6) ten places of memory heritage site and local wisdom, 7) three places of buildings associated with the church, 8) five areas of cultural and commercial.