The Heritage of Lanna Manuscript Literature and
the Indian Support for their Preservation
Phisit
Kotsupho,Ph.D.
Director
of Graduate School. CM. MCU, Thailand
phisittha@hotmail.com
Presented at Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur Chattisgarh India
(มหาวิทยาลัย คุรุ ฆาสิทาส เมืองพิลาสปูร์ รัฐฉัตติสคารห์ อินเดีย)
Febyuary 11,2023
Abstract
All Southeast Asia Countries
in the past times, had received the cultural heritage, namely the religious
beliefs, Traditional customs, languages and literature, especially the Lanna
Kingdom, the Northern part of Thailand inherited civilization from India since those
times for example, the Doctrine of Brahmanism - Hinduism and Buddhism through
literary teachings such as Jataka Tales, Folk Tales including the principles of
governance and Ethical traditions.
The mentioned literary works, in
ancient times, were inscribed or written in palm leaves or local papers. They were preserved
in religious places such as temples or personal possessions having inherited
from generations to generations. Particularly, the land of Lanna, there are
many manuscripts related to Religious Doctrines, Cultures, Traditions and Literature
are kept throughout Lanna Kingdom. Around
1972 onwards, The Northern or Lanna Institutions had surveyed ancient Manuscripts
in the Upper Northern and Lower Central Regions covered at least 17 provinces having
found and preserved Manuscripts as the Collective Data of Ancient Lanna Manuscripts.
There were not lesser than 6,000 Items, in counting as more than 20,000
bindings, and by pages are more than 700,000 pages.
Especially, these literatures
have been categorized into 11 categories, such as
Buddhism, Folk Tales, Traditional/Primitive Laws, Astrology, Ritual Cultures,
and etc. In the literary section, which is an extension of religious Doctrine,
there will be a type of Jataka Stories, Folk tales. These literatures have been
handed down from generations to generations through proverbs, teachings or
tales, from which these concepts were based on the main principles, influenced
or inherited from Countries whose civilizations are more prosperous than Countries in the South
East Asia. That is to say, Thailand, especially, was influenced by Hindu
teachings. Before the invasion of Buddhism, there will be at least the literary
stories about Ramayana or Proverbs, such as the Vetala Tales, Hitopadesha and
so on.
In addition, when Buddhism was accepted, literary
works would be transmitted through Jataka stories, the past lives of the
Buddha, his disciples, or ethical tales. Those came from India, such as the
story of Phra Nala, the story of the Ratha and Meri, etc. The most influential
and closest literary examples to Thai people are the Astrology, Prophecy. Lanna
is even though as the resource of a large collection of Manuscripts like this,
but it still not thoroughly be explored and organized systematically. If the
time passes by, these documents will be damaged and lost. Therefore, in 2021
AD. the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA), has signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between
Chiang Mai Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University and National Mission for
Manuscripts, Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi, India led
by Dr. Sacchidananda Joshi, Director of IGNCA and Staffs.
By
the coordination of Prof.Dr. Amajiva Lochan, and supported by Sir Suresh Soni,
the Advisor of Mistry of Culture, Indian Government has provided the most modernized Equipment Tools for Digital Photocopying to MCU and installed at
CM. MCU, Thailand.
Furthermore, in July 2022,
the experts from NMM of IGNCA headed by Dr.Jha. were sent to train the necessary techniques of conservation
systemize the data of the Manuscripts to the staff of the CM. MCU about 2 weeks, until the staffs
of the CM. MCU can hand over to continue
of the conservative works respectively following the objectives of two Agencies successfully.
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