Constructing the Local History of Queen Chamari in Li, Thailand through Folklore

การสร้างประวัติศาสตร์ท้องถิ่นเรื่องเจ้าแม่จามรี อำเภอลี้ จังหวัดลำพูน ผ่านคติชน

Authors

  • Patawee Promsen Department of Linguistics, Folklore, Philosophy and Religion, Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University

Keywords:

Queen Chamari, Li, Lamphun, Folk History, Collective Memory

Abstract

This article explores various ways in which the people of Li District, Lamphun Province, Thailand, use folklore as a tool to remember and commemorate the local history of Li and the local hero “Queen Chamari.” It applies the concepts of folk history and collective memory to understand various oral traditions performed in the Li community. The results show that folklore operates in both verbal, material, and customary forms of commemoration. Verbal forms include historical legends passed down from generation to generation, supernatural legends connect to both ancient and present time, and place names. The material folklore includes mural paintings at Phrathat Duang Diao Temple, statues of queen Chamari, and particular buildings and sites. For the customary folklore, there are annual worship rituals known as "buang-suang" that take place in various locations throughout town. Folk songs are another folklore genre that is widespread in the local community. All these expressive cultures contribute to the reconstruction of Chamari and the town's history, which is gradually fading from the perceptions of both the young and people from other places, as Li has recently become well-known as the town of Three Khrubas, the revered monks of Lanna tradition. The folklore commemorations described here reflect the people of Li’s dedication to reenacting this forgotten history, and, more importantly, the forgotten identity of Li as a town ruled by a female queen.

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Published

2023-12-18

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2023): July-December

Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)

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