Curious about the story behind this seemingly quiet village? Here in Ban San Thung Mai we delve into Chiang Mai’s rich past. It is a past that is woven into the very fabric of Northern Thailand.
Ban San Thung Mai is part of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai owes its existence to the Ping River. The river was a channel for trade. It connected China and Myanmar to the Gulf of Siam. The wide fertile valley supported many people. This formed the basis of political power in the feudal kingdom of Lanna. Lanna means the million fields.
King Mangrai a powerful Tai leader captured Haripunchai. He then founded his new capital Chiang Mai in 1296. He chose a site typical for a Tai city. It was at the foot of a mountain. This provided both water and timber.
Chiang Mai was the capital of the kingdom of Lanna. It enjoyed a golden age throughout the 15th century. The kingdom controlled most of what is now northern Thailand. It also included north-western Laos and the eastern Shan states of Myanmar. Even Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan was part of it. Theravada Buddhism shaped cultural wealth. Its influence was felt down the centuries.
Lanna was caught between the Burmese and the Siamese Thai of Ayutthaya. Lanna fought several times against Ayutthaya. This drained the kingdom’s strength. Internal struggles and oppression further weakened it. In 1558 Chiang Mai fell to the Burmese forces of King Bayinnaung.
For over two centuries Chiang Mai was under Burmese control from 1558 to 1774. The Burmese exploited the city-state. They used it for military purposes in their wars with Ayutthaya. Rebellion only brought suppression.
Eventually northern Thai forces allied with the Siamese. They drove the Burmese out. Chiang Mai was so weak it was abandoned.
With Siamese help Chao Kawila of Lampang repopulated Chiang Mai. He brought Tai Yai Shan, Tai Khoen and Tai Yong people. He formally re-established Chiang Mai in 1796. To this day many people in Chiang Mai and Lamphun trace their origins to these Tai groups.
Allied to the Siamese Thai Chiang Mai gained strength. Western interests in the teak forests increased. King Chulalongkorn Rama V of Siam took over the administration in 1892. Westerners and overseas Chinese established themselves in the valley.
Economic integration with Siam later named Thailand became firmer. This happened with the opening of the railway in 1921. Trade routes to the north were blocked by political barriers.
Chiang Mai remained a quiet city. Then tourism brought the development boom of the seventies and eighties.
Chiang Mai thrives on. It is a rare city. It has been continuously inhabited by diverse groups. Their traditions and cultures have blended into a rich civilization for 700 years.
Chiang Mai proudly exhibits its fortification system. Inner and outer walls and moats are still visible. Temples are beautifully renovated. They serve the people in traditional ways but also in the context of contemporary society. The monuments and cultural landscape are being safeguarded. They serve multi purposes. These include promoting social and cultural identity and enhancing the city’s universal values.
As you explore Ban San Thung Mai remember the layers of history beneath your feet. The echoes of kings battles and cultural rebirths shape this land. It is a land that continues to evolve.