SAFEGUARDING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF PHIN PIA: THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LANNA, THAILAND

Abstract

Safeguarding and Sustainable Development of Phin Pia: The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Lanna, Thailand focuses on the identity of phin pia musical instrument in relation to its value and the sustainable development of phin pia in Lanna region. This research focuses on the core knowledge of nine phin pia musicians from Northern Thailand.

The Overtone spot of 1-5 string phin pia can be separated into three positions on string as G D G or A E A. The two-string phin pia includes pok and jok strings which both strings are tuned as an interval forth (G and C), the three-string phin pia, those are tuned as an interval fourth and second (A C D), while four-string phin pia, pok and jok strings are tuned as intervals fourth and fifth (A C D G) and the five-string phin pia, those are tuned as intervals fourth, fifth, and third (A C D G F) respectively. The value of phin pia relates to the Buddhism and Brahmanism, the beauty of art and design aesthetics, and the sacred sound of phin pia.

Exploring the sustainable development of phin pia at present shows the phin pia line of succession in Lanna region can be segregated into four groups including Chiang Mai - Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, and Phrae - Nan provinces. However, Chaing Mai - Lamphun and Lampang provinces are the main phin pia line of succession. The form of sustainable development of phin pia comprises tradition, adaptation, research, instructional media and technology, and role establishment of phin pia in the modern Lanna society. The sustainable development of phin pia has been developed by means of globalised world which established the variety of phin pia identity. This is related to the way of developing the role of phin pia in Lanna society and culture in the future.