THE CONSERVATION AND cultural practices influenced by Khom, MANAGEMENT OF THE Hindu and Islamic cultures and mainly by Indian and Chinese civilizations. Since CULTURAL HERITAGE OF then, the region has become a confluence : · THE DRAFTING of different cultures and civilizations. In OF THE CHARTER fact, in prehistoric times there was also association among different groups of peoples in . During the Weeraphan Shinawatra Metal Age (about 3500 years ago) early settlers in different parts of Southeast Asia Abstract shared cultural practices (Intharawut 2005: This paper is an attempt to explain 32). problems of cultural heritage conservation and management in Thailand due to In the past, Thailand was officially called the neglect of the State and the weakness Siam. According to Jit Phumisak, the of the society in understanding and author of a book about the etymology of protecting their cultural heritage the terms Siam, Thai, Lao, and Khom, and especially the 'folk culture" against the social characteristics of ethnonyrp.s, the globalization. The paper also points out name Siam might have gradually evolved, that the impending Thailand Charter for over thousands of years, from Sarm, Sam, cultural heritage conservation and Same, Siem, Sayam, and Seam. These management is the key solution to counter• were names used to refer to the ancient Tai balance today 's threats. Non-government by neighboring nations. Phumisak's work organizations should take the lead in presents a systematic study of language to drafting the Charter with full public increase understanding of early Thai participation. Meanwhile local cultural history and the origin of Thais (Kasetsiri, heritage organizations which are at risk 'Preface' , in Jit Phumisak, 2001: 11). should immediately respond, with all stakeholders involved, before it is too late. Over the long history of the nation, Thai culture has been developed from a range Thai Culture: Origins and of small agricultural societies. In former times, a number of early agricultural Development villages-influenced by various civilizations that existed in the region• Before the establishment of Thailand as a shared their customs and wisdom. Later, nation in the land of Suvambhumi (Land tribal villages formed into urban of Gold), the realm abounded with ethnic communities that eventually clustered into and cultural diversity as it was located on small empires and kingdoms across the the maritime trade route between and territory. The rising and falling of these China. At that time, using sea and land small kingdoms and empires followed an routes, Southeast Asians developed unclear sequence, and there is uncertainty trading relations. The primary sea route and discontinuity in their chronology. As followed the coastline (Intharawut, 2005: for the superior kingdoms, including 32). In the coastal area, there were trading Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Haripunjaya, and social interactions among various Sukhothai, Lopburi or Lawo, Ayodhaya• nations with different customs and Supanabhurni, Krungsri Ayudthaya, and traditions, different religious beliefs, and

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Rattanakosin, there are overlaps and the populace culture creates and parallel periods of supremac~. T~e maintains diversity to different extended kingdom of Lanna ex1sted m groups in society. The royal parallel with several empires of later culture exists far from common periods up to the reign of Phrachao people that can perceive only its Inthawichayanon, the 7th ruler of Nakom patterns and systematic symbols Chiang Mai. The Lanna Kingdom ended referred to as arts and culture in 1886, after Chao Dararassamee XI, while the populace culture daughter of Phrachao Inthawichayanon, comprehends dynamic, ever• was offered to King Rama V. However, changing lifestyle and society. Lanna is not identified as a Thai kingdom, and its historical and archaeological It can be said that Thai culture is derived significance as the origin of Thai is not from a combination of Asian civilizations included in the conventional narrative of and various other cultures, including the Thai history. 'folk cultures' and 'royal cultures' of the old kingdoms across the region. Thais The old Thai kingdoms were shaped by have developed their own culture from a two societies -- Thai imperial society and unique blend of different Southeast Asian Thai village society. The 'royal culture' cultures and influential cultures and and the 'folk culture' were connected by civilizations that flowed into this region in religious customs, especially by Buddhist former times. As noted by Sumet Jumsai practices. Furthermore, Brahman and in his book NAGA Cultural Origins in Hindu rituals also helped to maintain the Siam and the West Pacific: association of the two cultures, as stated below by Srisak Wallipodom (2001:4): Human penetration into the continent's interior was The royal culture is a high significant, particularly in the culture while the populace area immediately south of the culture is a low culture, which Himalayas, for at that point in can be called life culture. The time and geography there populace culture involves rural• occurred a rebound of the urban ways of life. Each group complex fusion of the ocean• or community embraces and mountain continent idea (as develops its own culture and way contained in the Hindu- Buddhist of life developed from learning cosmology) back to South-East process in order to adjust to and Asia where, as a result , the built survive in different settlement environment was subjected to an areas. Local cultures of different unprecedented creative fervour. places are diverse, depending on No doubt the Arayan [sic] their ancestors, history, and invasion of northern India played environment. The difference a part by pushing people south• between the royal culture and the eastwards, but it was primarily populace culture is that the royal due to the early Indian traders culture creates unity and that Hinduism came to the Malay similarity in society to integrate Peninsula, and possibly to different groups together while Emperor Asoka that

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eventually found its way to the insignificant. As a result, evidence of high Chao Phraya Basin. culture still exists in Thai society, while The rebound of this today's 'populace cultures' have been cosmography in effect completed westernized. a full cycle, and the result was that the original reflex or Cultural Heritage: the primary instinct was now Understanding of Cultural superimposed by a secondary Heritage in Thai Society intellectual system based on contemplation and set rules. The Before the introduction of the term response in Siam was threefold : 'cultural heritage' into Thai society, the first, a ready acceptance of the public was familiar with the word 'culture' Hindu-Buddhist canon which in as a way of life, a set of values, behavioral architecture corresponds to the patterns, belief systems, traditions, and formal style referred to (set rules customs from the past. As a result of the being in any case unavoidable for post-World War II historic preservation the business of government); movement, the terms 'cultural heritage,' secondly, the existence side by 'preservation,' 'tangible heritage,' and side of the formal (secondary) 'architectural heritage' were brought into and non-formal (primary) Thai society. After the war, the massive cultural elements without any destruction of artistically, archeologically, apparent conflict; and thirdly, the and historically significant monuments bending of classical rules due to sparked worldwide concern for the the irrepressible instinct of the preservation of cultural heritage. people, giving architecture a Although the Athens Charter for the distinct character of its own restoration of historic monuments was (Jumsai, 1997: 79-80). adopted in 1931, it was after World War II that the United Nations Educational, Slightly different from the Indian Scientific, and Cultural Organization , the traditional (UNESCO, 1945) drew up several was adapted from the Hindu declarations, charters, and conventions to salutation . This illustrates the raise awareness of the world's 'cultural characteristic of Thais' cultural heritage'. Among these was the Venice adaptation. Furthermore, several defining Charter, drawn up in 1964 for the aspects of the Thai identity - including its conservation and restoration of alphabet, literature, performances, arts, monuments and sites. As in several other and architecture -- adapted from Tai, countries, the Venice Charter has become Indian, Chinese, Khom, and Arabic the standard for preservation practice in cultures, confirm the aforementioned Thailand. After the Venice Charter, adaptability of Thai people. several conservation charters --Australia's Burra Charter, the Washington Charter, While Thais have nurtured and the Nara Document on Authenticity, and maintained the 'royal cultures' and the Chinese Charter -- were drawn up by religions from past eras, 'folk cultures' expanding the principles of the Venice have been ignored or treated as Charter and broadening the scope of preservation to safeguard the context of

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historic sites and monuments and to have significantly influenced physical and embrace an approach that supports the cultural changes in Thailand. The protection of 'intangible heritage', such as phenomenal urban growth and internal the local way of life, neighborhoods, migrat~on have caused the society to communities, traditions, and customs, as neglect the diverse indigenous wisdom 'cultural heritage' for the future. and culture. In addition, the cultural gap between urban and rural populations has Although many other nations have increased. The nation's tangible culture developed their own conservation charters has deteriorated, and local intangible based on the Venice Charter, the Thai Fine culture has been weakened in the midst of Arts Department has not yet developed a the 'modem development' of the past national charter for the cultural heritage of century. Consequently, there are places Thailand. Hence, the questions are: When with cultural intensity found in unpleasing will Thailand have a national cultural settings, due to public ignorance and heritage conservation charter? What unawareness. The clutter of development direction should this charter take? Should has created eyesores and environmental the charter cover the whole range of the pollution. In other words, evidence of the country's cultural heritage, or only works cultural heritage has gradually been erased of art? from the map of Thailand as well as from Thai memories. The country is now facing The Situation of Cultural the decline of its cultural capital. Cultural Heritage in Thailand disruption that makes it difficult for young people to learn about the ancient roots of In the past, the Fine Arts Department was their culture and indigenous wisdom is the only governmental body responsible another critical challenge. for the protection of historical monuments and objects in Thailand. As mentioned in As Thai society has become more the previous section, the narrow definition complex, the term 'Thai culture' has been of the term 'cultural heritage' forbids the interpreted differently among Thai protection of cultural resources in the individuals and organizations, depending country. However, the Fine Arts on their backgrounds. The diverse Department's preservation work has not constituents m society, such been expanded to include the protection of as government, private companies, other cultural resources due to its academics, and laypersons, comprehend restricted budget and management. In 'Thai culture' from different standpoints, addition, society's ignorance of folk which results in a vague picture of 'Thai culture and the tide of Western culture culture'. In comparison, perceiving the sweeping the country pose a risk to whole picture of 'Thai culture' seems like national cultural heritage. assembling an unfinished jigsaw puzzle with pieces spread out across a table. The Indeed, under the flood of globalization, society has been enjoying the culture of today's Thai society swiftly absorbs globalization, without awareness of losing foreign customs from both Western and of its own. In contrast, many foreign Eastern countries. As technology is an governments have, for many years, had a accelerator for globalization, today's fast- higher interest in and concern for . paced transportation and communication enhancing the arts and cultural

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environment in their country, and as a Therefore, Thailand should take a look at result, they have increased funds and other itself and ask out loud: support for arts and cultural research and cultural tourism. Has the nation decided to desert its cultural heritage? As for the richness and diversity of Thai What does the society want its arts and culture, Thailand contains high• 'cultures' to be? potential educational resources and How does Thailand need to tourism destinations; however, they are in adjust itself culturally? crisis for lack of good management. Do the constituents of the Thailand is, indeed, a multi-level cultural society have a shared reserve-with internationally, nationally understanding of the cultures? and locally important heritage, but it has How can Thailand find a deteriorated partially on account of balance in its cultural inadequate information and understanding development today in order for of the indigenous cultural heritage in the it to be useful for future government sector. For example, generations? construction of roads through communities with cultural intensity has had a great These issues confirm that, as for the impact on social and cultural change in the government sector, besides cultural area; broad roads have become a form of awareness, sufficient information on the social-interaction barrier for community country's cultural environment and residents and brought along with them - sources is crucial for improving cultural besides traffic accidents - an eyesore of resource management practices of each mixed-use buildings. In short, some of the bureau. As has been done in several other so-called 'development projects' have countries, the nation's cultural database taken away the locals' way of living and should be developed, and cultural cultural identity. The limitation of urban information should be provided for each planning laws and the immigration of development project that the government labor have also caused physical offices handle. Well-conserved cultural transformation of neighborhoods, and resources will not only offer a cultural altered local daily living patterns. It can be environment attractive to tourists but also said that without social connection and provide the nation with strong cultural cultural identity, the local sense of linkage. belonging is weakened, and here is the place where a cycle of immigration, The Ministry of Culture has recently been cultural ignorance, and selfishness begin founded as a government bureau in the face of National Economic and responsible for integrating cultural Social Development Plan 9. In other knowledge and managing the artistic and words, the poor management of cultural cultural heritage of Thailand in order to resources has undermined social cohesion maintain the nation's cultural diversity. and threatened cultural integrity and The Ministry has been developing cultural eventually resulted in the loss of the maps as tools for cultural resource nation's cultural capital that helps run the management across the country while local administration and economy. performing the role of a cultural coordinator among governmental offices.

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A Charter for the Conservation _vision of an approach to sustaining Thai and Management of the Cultural culture. Heritage of Thailand: Necessity It is time for Thai society to develop its and Direction own charter for the conservation and management of cultural heritage so that its It is important for Thailand to find a constituents -- government and local balance between Thai culture and the administrators, academics, and the culture of globalization. Over time Thai Ministry of Culture, for example - will society has become a more complex have their own guidelines for the society in the current of globalization. management of Thai cultural heritage in Therefore, Thais' cultural education and keeping with international conservation their well-balanced adjustment to standards. The charter will allow the international cultures are urgent matters if participation of the constituents in the society is to sustain and cultivate 'Thai preserving and sustaining customs, local culture' as well as reconnect 'Thai culture' knowledge, arts or good culture, as to today's Thai society, like the slogan encouraged by the Constitution of The 'think global, act local'. Kingdom of Thailand of 1997, Section 46.

The value of Thailand's cultural heritage The next question is, 'Who should be in all its diversity should be exhibited. It is responsible for drawing up this charter?' It essential to value extensive resources, not should be an organization that has only historic monuments and objects. adequate budget and understanding of Unlike Western society with its concern cultural heritage. The organization should for preserving tangible cultural heritage be associated with Thai cultural heritage such as old buildings, urban communities, and be able to coordinate with local and neighborhoods, Asians have more residents, governmental bureaus, and concern for the conservation of local ways international agencies (the Ministry of of life, traditions, and religious space, Culture and UNESCO). There are five which are intangible culture (Shinawatra, organizations with these qualifications, 2004: 9). The nation should conserve not including: only its tangible but its intangible cultural heritage including traditions, customs, The Office of Environmental history, literatures and languages, music, Policy and Planning (the folklore, religions, and local ways of life. government bureau now The national charter for the conservation coordinating with the Thai and management of the cultural heritage of regional office of UNESCO); Thailand should be drawn up as a reference for the conservation of both The Society for the Thais' tangible and intangible cultural Conservation ofNational heritage. Treasures and the Environment (SCONTE- a non-government To accomplish this, Thai society should organization established by the have a clear mutual understanding of the Thailand Environment term 'culture.' It should evolve collective Foundation); ideas (common ideas) of Thai culture and its elements as well as develop a shared

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Thailand Cultural Environment A cultural data, information and research Fund (CEF- a non-government network as a center of collective organization established by the information about Thai culture might be Thailand Environment the answer to the above questions. Foundation); However, the center should provide potentially rich resources for research at The Arts and Architecture every level and be approachable for every Conservation Committee of the interested organization and individual with Association of Siamese ethics, respect, and professionalism. Architects (ASA- a non• government organization); and The Charter for Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management of Thailand The International Council on is a good start for the management of the Monuments and Sites nation's cultural resources. It is also another (ICOMOS Thailand - an answer to those questions in that it will help international non-governmental to set a direction for integrated or synthetic organization-with anthropological research. Under the international committees, supervision of the Fine Arts Department, including the Thai !CMOS the Ministry of Culture, and other committee-advising UNESCO associated government bureaus, the charter on cultural properties.) will help to enable the connection of research - by organizations, such as the Among these organizations, ICOMOS National Research Council of Thailand, might be the most suitable delegate. It universities and other educational appears to be able to bring together other institutions - to future policy for national public and private organizations and development. In effect, the Charter will individuals to participate in drawing up the help to promote integrated synthetic Charter for the Conservation and research, which the Philosophy Division of Management of Cultural Heritage of the National Research Council encourages, Thailand. in addition to today's pur-e research.

The Charter and Anthropological Researchers References From an anthropological standpoint, there are questions concerning how to raise Intharawut, Phasuk. 2005. Suvarnbhumi Thai society's awareness of cultural Chak Lukthan Borankhadi significance; how the society will exploit (Suvarnbhumi from the its cultural resources as a tool for the Archaeological Evidence). Bangkok: nation's development; how to evolve The Department of Archaeology, collective ideas of researchers; and how to Silpakorn University. [In Thai]. develop a cultural research database from Jumsai, Sumet. 1997. NAGA Cultural the participation of every constituent Origins in Siam and the West Pacific. across the country. Bangkok: Chalermnit Press and DD Books. [In Thai].

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Phumisak, Jit. 1976. Khwampenma Khong Kham Sayam Thai Lao Lae Khom Lae Laksana Thangkansangkhom Khong Duchat (Etymology ofthe terms Siam, Thai, Lao and Khom, and the social characteristics ofethnonyms), Forward by Charnvit Kasetsiri. Bangkok: Social Sciences Association ofThailand. [In Thai]. Shinawatra, Weeraphan. 2004. The Problems and Conception of the Conservation of Architectural Heritage in the Asia Pacific. Paper presented at the Seminar for the Development of the Anthropological Researchers: Integrating-Approach Research for the Conservation and Development of the Northern Old Town. 15-17 October 2004, Chiangmai. [In Thai]. Wallipodom, Srisak. 2001. Phattanakarn Thang Sungkhom Wattanatham Thai (Thai Socio-Cultural Development). 2"d ed. Bangkok: Amarin Printing. [In Thai].

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