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38-423: According to the folklore , the legend of Singhanavati (ตำนานสิงหนวัติ), it used to be an ancient kingdom known as Singhanavati or Yonok. The kingdom was destroyed by a sudden flood from earthquake in one night. Submerged the entire town in a what is known today as "Wiang Nong Lom" (เวียงหนองหล่ม, "drowned town") an archaeological swamp south of the lake. This lake has a total area of 2,711 rais (1,071 acres). It

76-439: A bad omen to neglect these spots and offerings are regularly made by people living nearby. The local beliefs regarding the nocturnal village spirits of Thailand were studied by Phraya Anuman Rajadhon. Most spirits were traditionally not represented in paintings or drawings, hence they are purely based on stories of the oral tradition . Thai cinema , Thai television soap operas and Thai comics have contributed to popularize

114-466: A consequence, they have become so familiar to average people that they fully belong to the folklore of their respective country. Often each country claims the story as its own cultural achievement. Thailand is no exception. Sang Thong ( Suvannasankhajātaka ), where the marriage between a man and a woman of different social status is the main subject of the story, and Honwichai and Kawi are also long traditional stories. The "Woodcutter who lost his Axe"

152-699: A regular feature in present-day Thai comics . The mynah is featured in some tales for its ability to talk and imitate sounds. The "Hen and her six chicks" , explaining the origin of the Pleiades , "The White Crows" and tales with elephants such as "The Elephant, the Monkey and the Quail", and "The Elephants and the Bees" are common folk tales, some of which are based on the Panchatantra . Snakes are part of

190-538: Is a campsite for visitors. Chiang Saen Lake is regarded as the northernmost lake in Thailand. Thai folklore Thai folklore is a diverse set of mythology and traditional beliefs held by the Thai people . Most Thai folklore has a regional background for it originated in rural Thailand . With the passing of time, and through the influence of the media, large parts of Thai folklore have become interwoven with

228-567: Is a 400 km (249 mi) long system of mountain ranges in the eastern half of the Thai highlands . The range lies mostly in Thailand , although a small section in the northeast is within Sainyabuli and Bokeo provinces of Laos . In Thailand the range extends mainly across Chiang Rai , Phayao , Lampang , Phrae , Nan , Uttaradit and Sukhothai Provinces , reaching Tak Province at its southwestern end. The population density of

266-698: Is a kind of Thai Buddhist blessed item. It is used for raising funds in order to help the temple producing the amulets . Worshippers can obtain an amulets or Thai Buddhist monk blessing by simply donating money or offering oil to the temple. After the donation, Thai Buddhist monk will give amulet as a gift to them. With the change of time, amulet no longer simply means as a "gift", but a kind of tool to help enhance luck in different aspects, some people use amulets to improve marriage, wealth, health, love and people relationship. Phi Pan Nam Range The Phi Pan Nam Range , also Pee Pan Nam , ( Thai : ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ , pronounced [tʰīw kʰǎw pʰǐː pān náːm] )

304-460: Is a well-liked Thai tale with a moral lesson promoting honesty. Sri Thanonchai is a trickster which tricks people with his word. Many figures of the Buddhist tradition have been fully incorporated into Thai lore, among these are the yaksa (ยักษ์), ogres ( yaksha ), and ogresses ( Pali : Yakkhini ), the tall and scary Prets (เปรต), Ongkhuliman (องคุลิมาล), the violent criminal named after

342-591: Is bound by the Mekong River . There are columnar basalt formations in Mon Hin Kong ( Thai : ม่อนหินกอง ) in an area in the mountains near Na Phun, Wang Chin District , Phrae Province. In Phae Mueang Phi there are mushroom rocks and other bizarre rock formations caused by erosion . The Phi Pan Nam range system is often divided into two physiographic longitudinal sections: The highest point

380-617: Is composed of many smaller mountain chains roughly aligned in a north–south direction in its northern part and, further south, in a northeast–southwest direction. These ranges cover an extensive area and are often separated by intermontane basins or lowlands. They end in the west with the Khun Tan Range , in the east with the Luang Prabang Range , and with the Central Plain of Siam in the south. The northern tip

418-675: Is now a historical site and a forest park at Doi Phaya Phipak, also known as Phaya Phipak. A controversial dam was planned in the central area of the range on the Yom River in Kaeng Suea Ten in 1991 but this project was later abandoned in the face of popular opposition. The debate about the dam, however, resumed in 2011. Two smaller dams on the Yom River may be built instead of the Kaeng Suea Ten mega-dam. Generally

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456-530: Is rooted in folk religion . Until they were recorded, folk beliefs were handed down from one generation to the next. Village shamans are known as phram , a word that has its origin in Brahmana. The phram conducts exorcisms and performs marriages, among other ceremonies. Another important figure in Thai folk religion is the mo phi (หมอผี) or shaman who would also conduct rituals. To invoke spirits of

494-429: Is the 1,694 metres (5,558 ft) high summit known as Doi Luang . It is in the northwestern area of the range near Phayao town, but there are a number of lesser mountains with the name ' Doi Luang ' throughout the range. Other noteworthy peaks are: The Phi Pan Nam range of mountains is not as high as neighboring mountain systems. It is, however, significant from the hydrographic point of view. These mountains divide

532-748: The Mekong from the Chao Phraya watershed and important rivers of Thailand have their source in the Phi Pan Nam area. Its name in Thai "ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ" roughly means "the mountains of the spirits dividing the waters", 'spirits' (ผี phi ) here referring to ancient mountain deities of Thai folklore . Among the Thai rivers that originate in the Phi Pan Nam Mountains the main ones are the Wang and Yom River , with their tributaries such as

570-679: The Ngao , flowing towards the Chao Phraya. The Ing and the Lao , a tributary of the Kok River , flow northwards and are part of the Mekong basin. A great number of smaller rivers have their sources in mountains across the range. The Sirikit Dam is at the southeastern edge of the Phi Pan Nam mountains. There were formerly large teak forests in some areas of the range. However, at the beginning of

608-620: The Northern Line across the Phi Pan Nam mountains. Both are on the south side of the range: the 130.2 m Huai Mae Lan Tunnel in Phrae Province and the 362.4 m Khao Phlueng Tunnel in Uttaradit and Phrae Provinces. In the mountains north of Thoeng , at the northeast end of the range, Hmong people live in small villages such as Ban Saen Than Sai and Ban Phaya Phripak, the latter on top of a mountain pass. The Phi Pan Nam Range

646-693: The Wiang Ko Sai National Park but there have been no sightings in recent years. The green peafowl , now rare in the wilderness and threatened by habitat destruction throughout Southeast Asia , breeds in the central mountains of the range from January to March. Among the other animals, the Indian muntjac , Burmese hare , Indian hare , Indochinese flying squirrel , black giant squirrel , Java mouse-deer , jungle cat , mainland serow , masked palm civet , Asian palm civet , Malayan civet , bamboo rat and northern treeshrew , as well as

684-456: The 20th century concessions were given to logging companies and the forest cover dwindled dramatically especially in lowland areas between ranges. Deforestation also has affected areas that were cleared for local agriculture. Often wildfires are deliberately set off by local farmers, as well as by speculators who hire people to set forests on fire in order to claim land title deeds for the areas that have become " degraded forest ". Owing to

722-705: The Siamese version of the Ramayana . Some of these charms have their origin in the culture of the Thai Chinese , as Phraya Anuman Rajadhon observed, but they have been adopted by the Thai people, often with changes. Superstitions of the Thai people include: Spirits or ghosts are known generically as phi (ผี) and they may be found, among other places, in certain trees, burial grounds near Buddhist temples, some houses, as well as mountains and forests. The Phi Pan Nam Range (ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ), "The mountain range of

760-715: The Thai popular lore, and depending on the background of the tale or myth, they have different meanings. Nak (นาค), Nagas figure in some stories of local folklore and are represented as well in Buddhist temples as architectural elements. Male lust is often popularly represented as a snake growing on top of the head of the lustful man. Thai folk mythology also includes the idea of a link between snakes and women. Some stories based on snakes have been made into Thai movies. The articles listed below are an essential part of Thai folklore. Some were articles of daily household use in rural areas. Thai Buddha amulet ( Thai : พระเครื่อง )

798-660: The area is relatively low. Only two sizable towns, Phayao and Phrae , are within the area of the mountain system and both have fewer than 20,000 inhabitants each. Larger towns, like Chiang Rai and Uttaradit , are near the limits of the Phi Pan Nam Range, in the north and in the south, respectively. Phahonyothin Road , part of the AH2 Highway system, crosses the Phi Pan Nam Range area from north to south, between Tak and Chiang Rai. There are two railway tunnels of

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836-414: The dead, four sticks are planted at equal distance from each other on the ground near the burial or cremation place. A thread is tied around the sticks forming a protective square and a mat is spread in the middle, where the mo phi sits down. In front of him, outside of the square there is a mo khao terracotta jar with a yantra painted on the outside containing the ashes or bones of the dead person. Beside

874-426: The expression of local folk beliefs. Folk tales and legends in Thailand were used by elders to instill beliefs in the younger generation. Most stories contain moral lessons teaching the importance of following traditions and to display reverence to elders, parents, and superiors. The stories of the spirit world taught children to be cautious, to stay at home at night, and to respect customs regarding death rituals and

912-457: The forested areas of the Phi Pan Nam are known for their teak and bamboo forest. The mountain ranges are covered with tropical dry broadleaf forests , including sections of moist evergreen forest , mixed deciduous forest , dry deciduous forest , as well as hill evergreen forest at higher altitudes. There is great biodiversity in these mountains and their few unspoilt valleys, with a wide range of animal and plant species. The whole area of

950-595: The fragmented, although relatively undisturbed Phi Pan Nam forests are the fishing cat , sun bear , Asiatic black bear , Chinese pangolin , Indochinese tiger , sambar deer , gaur , Bengal slow loris , Sunda pangolin , as well as the Asiatic softshell turtle and the big-headed turtle . There are also Asian elephants in their natural habitat in a few protected areas, such as in the Si Satchanalai National Park . Formerly there were also in

988-421: The garland of the fingers of his victims he wore around his neck, as well as Nariphon , the mythical tree of Buddhist literature bearing fruits in the shape of young girls. Vivid descriptions of the torments of hell , sometimes in the form of garish sculptures, are to be found in some Buddhist temples in Thailand. These representations are so popular that, along with figures of local spirits, they have become

1026-490: The importance of offerings . Many Thai folk tales are based on the texts of Buddhism . Also some of the stories of classical Thai literature , such as Khun Chang Khun Phaen (ขุนช้างขุนแผน) and Lilit Phra Lo (ลิลิตพระลอ), a story about young lovers with a tragic end, originated in folk tales. Phra Aphai Mani is a Thai epic poem that has inspired local folklore. Throughout Thailand there are also local folk stories connected with particular geographic features, such as

1064-819: The influence of the edge effect . Besides the national parks and wildlife reserves, there are the Huai Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve in Lampang Province and the Phu Langka Forest Park , located in Chiang Kham District and Pong District of Phrae Province. The main attractions of the forest park are Doi Hua Ling , Doi Phu Lang Ka and Doi Phu Nom ; the latter is a breast-shaped hill rising in an area of grassland . Formerly there were large extensions of teak ( Tectona grandis ) forests in

1102-502: The jar there is also a plate of rice as an offering and a stick or switch to keep the spirits at bay. In order to be protected against bad luck, charms and amulets for bringing luck or for protection are popular in Thailand. Some of these are tied around the body or worn as a necklace , while others come in the form of yantra tattooing . The yantra endows the wearer with supernatural protection, love, health, and wealth. In order to bring luck and provide protection, yants are also drawn in

1140-516: The range is part of the Central Indochina dry forests ecoregion . There are a number of protected areas in the Phi Pan Nam mountains, mostly encompassing mountainous terrain. These are patchily distributed across the range, and the largest national parks are in its central part, roughly around Phayao town. Protected sectors are typically surrounded by agricultural zones, often near roads and villages and thus with vast surfaces under

1178-996: The range, including the highly appreciated golden teak variety. These forests are now much reduced. Forest fires are common during the dry season. Some of the other species of trees found in the forests of the mountains are: Afzelia xylocarpa , Ailanthus triphysa , Anisoptera costata , Artocarpus lacucha , Berrya ammonilla , Betula alnoides , Cinnamomum iners , Dalbergia oliveri , Dillenia pentagyna , Dipterocarpus obtusifolius , Dipterocarpus alatus , Dipterocarpus turbinatus , Duabanga grandiflora , Garcinia indica , Hopea odorata , Irvingia malayana , Lagerstroemia loudonii , Lagerstroemia calyculata , Lagerstroemia tomentosa , Lithocarpus densiflorus , Mangifera caloneura , Michelia champaca , Michelia floribunda , Pterocarpus macrocarpus , Schleichera oleosa , Terminalia bellirica , Toona ciliata , Vitex pinnata and Xylia xylocarpa . The endangered animal species sheltered by some of

Chiang Saen Lake - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-406: The receptions of multinational companies, the entrances of supermarkets, and the interiors of taxis, trucks, and airplanes. In shops and houses, often next to a shelf with a Buddha statuette, charms for attracting customers are hung. These include printed pieces of cloth of fish-shaped figures, as well as streamers or framed pictures of a crocodile or of Suvannamaccha , the mermaid character of

1254-597: The relative isolation of the area there was Communist insurgency in the mountainous forests of the Phi Pan Nam Range during the Cold War . A memorial was erected on 1,118 m high Doi Phaya Phipak (ดอยพญาพิภักดิ์) to commemorate the victims of the battles between troops of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the insurgents of the Communist Party of Thailand between the 1950s and the 1970s. There

1292-541: The spirits and legends of the folklore of Thailand. Phraya Anuman Rajadhon established that most of the contemporary iconography of folk ghosts has its origins in Thai films that have become classics . Most of the spirits or ghosts are so popular they appear regularly in comic books as well as in films, including the Nak animated movie for children. The most well-known are the following: Some traditional celebrations, including Buddhist festivals, provide an opportunity for

1330-412: The spirits dividing the waters" that divides the Mekong from the Chao Phraya watershed , is named after the ancient spirits believed to dwell in the mountains. Spirit houses , known as san phra phum (ศาลพระภูมิ) in Thai language , are small shrines to provide a home for the tutelary spirits of a place. They are common near trees and groves and in urban areas, close to buildings. It is considered

1368-785: The story of Doi Nang Non (ดอยนางนอน), the "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady" and the legend about the formation of Khao Sam Roi Yot mountains and islands. The Jataka tales , such as the Vessantara Jataka , the Twelve Sisters , and Prince Samuttakote (Samuddaghosa), have provided inspiration to Thai traditional storytellers. These Jatakas have been often retold, abridged, and adapted to fit local culture in Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Burma , Cambodia , Laos , Malaysia , and Indonesia . As

1406-404: The wider popular Thai culture . Phraya Anuman Rajadhon (1888–1969) was the first Thai scholar to seriously study local folkloristics . He took copious notes on humble details of his culture such as the charms used by Thai shopkeepers to attract customers. He also studied in depth the oral literature related to different village spirits and ghosts of Thai lore. The core of Thai folklore

1444-473: Was originally just a small swamp, until a dam was built to block the waterway overflow until a large lake was formed known as Nong Bong Kai (หนองบงคาย). On April 4, 1985, it was declared as Nong Bong Kai Non-hunting Area. The lake is home to large flocks of migratory waterfowls which are most plentiful and can be seen at their best from November through February. Bird species found here are lesser whistling duck , grebe , common pochard , watercock etc. There

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