RSUSSH 2020
IN20-220 Nakorn Lampang Urban, Thailand in the Time of Economic Flourishing From the Forest Concession and the Arrival of the Railway
Presenter: Pichet Vanitcharernthum
Rangsit University, Thailand
Abstract
When English enlarged the forestry business from Burma into Lanna of Siam. Many of English forestry companies were founded by receiving the concession from Siamese government since 1864. And 1883 onwards, Lampang flourished from the forestry business because it was able connect to many others areas far away so it became to the important trade center. On the east bank of Wang river in Lampang urban laid the pier for goods transhipmen and for sending the teak logs down the river to the south so it was full of the people’s diversity. The urban community and trade center so appeared in this area called “Chinese Market”. In the earlier Burmese including Tai Yai were the most economical powerful groups. They owned the forestry business and as the traders and later the coming of many Chinese traders. Most of them became to be the millionaires and built the splendid houses in various styles. When the railway arrived to Lampang in 1915 leading to the big transformation of economic and transportation system. The new market was erected around Lampang railway station and became the sources for trading by train and the trade center instead Chinese Market. Most of traders are Chinese enlarging the power of economy. Lampang as the important center of economic and society was gradually declined because of the construction Pahalyotin Road to Chiengrai and the expanding the railway to Chiengmai in 1914 and 1921 respectively. So it became just only to the passway city to Chiengrai or Chiengmai. The rulers and aristocratic class of Lampang also were reduced the role and power because the politic administration was in the hand of Siam royal official from Bangkok.
Citation format:
Lerdkachatarn, P., & Vanitcharernthum, P.. (2020). Nakorn Lampang Urban, Thailand in the Time of Economic Flourishing From the Forest Concession and the Arrival of the Railway. Proceeding in RSU International Research Conference, May 1, 2020. Pathum Thani, Thailand.QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Hello. Thank you for your interesting presentation about Nakorn Lampang Urban history. I have a few questions:
1. What is your research question? It is highly recommended that you have one. For example, "How does the railway contribute to the prosperity of Nakorn Lampang?"
2. What is your method of collecting data?
Thanks for your questions
1. I would like to know why Lampang was the former trade center of Lanna in a period of time. It started from the attention of myself focusing in the grand and dignity houses and shops in Burmese, Chinese and vernacular styles including many beautiful temples erected all over 2 banks of Wang River in Lampang urban. They reflected the wealthy communities in the past so then I deeply studied about history of Lampang urban such as economy, politic, social, ethnic groups, believes, achitecture and related arts. I found Lampang urban flourished from 2 important conditions, 1). the forestry concession and business by westerners Burmese and Tai Yai since the reign of King Rama V and 2). the arrival of the railway to Lampang because the transportation by train is faster and more comfortable by transhipment. It can easier move the goods and poeple from Bangkok especially Chinese merchants to Lampang. In that time the railway ended at Lampang station so it became the export and import goods center of Lanna causing of the prosperity of Nakorn Lampang. Many Chinese and Burmese merchants all wealth from these. Nowadays, most of people usuallly have no interesing in Lampang urban because their goal are Chiengmai or Chiengrai.
2. It's my individual interest for a long time since 1997 that I have ever work in Lampang. In that moment, I started to collect the data which I can. Then I go to Lampang almost every year for studying and collecting the data in every parts of Lampang including talking to the local people. The study from the ancient and modern documents are needed. I think I have much more data about Lampang for presentation the paper.
I'm so pleased to answer your questions.
Parisut Lerdkachatarn
Thank you ajarn Parisut so much for your reply ka.
Hi! Thank you for your interesting presentation.
Could you please give some opinion about the future of Lampang in terms of economics? Is it possible that Lampang will become the distribution/export center of unique local products again in the near future? And what factors will help Lampang to achieve that goal?
Thank you very much
Thanks for your interest for my paper
Although Lampang was classified to be the secondary city but in the present it's rather popular as the living historic city. Nowadays the economic of Lampang is in the good level even thouugh the mega projects aren't permiited to erect in the urban because the Lampang Municipality think about the following pollutions. The prosperity caused by the past and the gradually growth step by step. Lampng still the trade center in some parts because it's the junction to Chiengmai, Chiengrai, Prae and Sukhotai. From the talking with local people, most of them are so pleased to living in this peaceful city without grand economic growth. In the urban is still the interdependence communities. In the present, there are a lot of tourists visit to Lampang urban seeing the local culture, vernecular architecture, dignity temples, local products including the okd markets and others which brought great income to the communities.
I apoligize if my answer is unclear.
Thank you so much
Dera Ajarn Supattra
I've forgot to sign my name for the answer mentioned.
Parisut Lerdkachatarn
Thank you ajarn Parisut and ajarn Pichet so much for your reply.
In your opinion,how should lampang be developed
in order to gain more important role and tobe than
just a passway city like in a present day?
To Ajarn Charly, Thanks for your question
From my field wokrs in Lampang for several times since 1987 onwards , I deeply understand that Lampang gradully gains more important role as the attractive tourist city step by step as the living historic city which hamonize the modernity. Although there is no mega ecomomic project in the urban but the local people able to have the good quality of life. The original and revitalize culture is one of the strong condition drawing the outer people to visit Lampang. I think Lampang in the present is not the only passway city again.
I'm so pleased to reply your question.
Parisut Lerdkachatarn