Chiang Mai Thailand Arts and Culture Center

Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center and Museum, Chiang Mai Thailand.

The Center and Museum was created to help local people and visitors understand the city's historical importance. It was also created to help discover the people's roots and foster a sense of pride in local identity, thus help preserve the beauty of local customs and culture. Also, the museum contributes to conservational tourism by preserving the heritage of the old city center and giving visitors the opportunity to know and understand the city of Chiang Mai.

The permanent exhibits are divided into important periods and topics in Chiang Mai history and region from pre-historic up to present times in 15 different rooms and stages. The city's proud identity, are presented using models, slides, photographs with text, digital video presentations in several languages and graphic displays. These exhibits will surely impress visitors and help them understand the origins and culture of the area and city.

Once you enter the museum there are arrows on the floor to direct you to the different stags of importance and time in Chiang Mai history.

1. The Video Room
A digital video presentation entitled "Chiang Mai Today" serves as an introduction to Chiang Mai from the past to the present.

2. Pre-Chiang Mai
The lives of early peoples in the region are shown through the remains of their habitat and tools they once used. Pictures and models show early cliff rock paintings in Lampang province some 3000 years old and pieces of archaeologist excavations by American Chester Norman at Tham Phi, "spirit cave", in Mae Hong Son Province dating back 12,000 - 7000 years ago. Archaeologists have also uncovered bronze and marble bracelets, iron artifacts as well as pottery and plates dating back 2,400 years.

3 and 4. Two River Civilizations and creating a New City
This exhibit illustrates how the principalities in the Kok and Ping river valleys were brought together by King Mangrai, the founder of Chiang Rai on the Kok River in 1263.

The story gets interesting on how King Mangri, using a planted spy, moved south to occupy and take Lumphun. He then consulted with two friendly local Kings over the founding of a New City.

The exhibit also portrays, with models and video presentation, the auspicious events that led to the site for this New City including the sighting of two white deer. Illustrations on how the city building plan followed a geometric pattern that was different from older cities. The New City, Chiang Mai, was strategically placed near the Ping River, surrounded by fertile plains and sheltered by mountains to the west. This placement allowed trade with the south via the Ping River and via the Kok River with other cities to the north including Chiang Saen and Yunnan in now present day China. The New City was officially established in 1296.

Models also show how ceremonies such as the coronation of King Mangrai and each corner of the old city wall, Thapae Gate, moat, city walls and the building of the many important city temples.

5. Environment, Culture and Relationships within the Region.
Using models and displays, this exhibit room shows how the blending of Theravada Buddhism with a rice growing economy and the geography of the region influenced the development of Lanna, "One Million Rice Fields", culture. Displays show clothing and implements of the period along with illustrations of the local language and literature. You will also learn how trade and location helped the city develop through trade and communication along overland and river routes.

Models will show the building of infrastructure projects such as the construction of unpaved roads, dams, water channels, irrigation canals and how water wheels were used. How skilled craftsmen and architects developed distinctive northern Lanna styles, making good use of natural resources such as resinous oils and wood for crafts like lacquer ware and stucco decorations. Lanna was also famous for making bronze Buddha Images and forging their own currency which are on display.

6. The Past Century of Chiang Mai and Lanna.
Transportation and communication were the themes for Chiang Mai around the turn of the 20th century as was most parts of the world. The construction of the railway from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in 1919 and the Khun Tan tunnel impacted the shape of the city. For the first time passengers and trade goods could travel to Bangkok and further afield safely, easily and quickly. Models, videos and replicas such as the steam train emerging from Khun Tan Tunnel, elephants and methods used in forestry along with how western business and Chinese merchants influenced the culture and growth. There is also a video on how Chiang Mai was incorporated into the Kingdom of Siam, a process that was largely a response to Western colonial expansion in the region. Wall displays explain the administrative changes that took place as Chiang Mai was integrated with central Thailand.

7. Impressions - The Best of Chiang Mai.
This room contains changing exhibits of photographs and artifacts from Chiang Mai. It illustrates the valuable and proud identity that the people of Chiang Mai have preserved from the past to the present.

8. The Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Building.
This room explains the history and importance of the location of the building together with the events that have taken place there since it was built in 1924.

9. Rulers of Chiang Mai
The customs associated with the Chiang Mai Kings, prince and rulers, "Chao", since King Mangrai to the last independent ruler through pictures and artifacts along with important events that took place during their reigns.

10. Life on the Banks of the Ping River.
In this room maps, pictures and models illustrate local architectural styles and show how traders from many different ethnic groups settled the communities along the banks of the Ping River. The land was rich, rivers full of fish and life was good. Detailed models show the typical Lanna home, also farming, and irrigation techniques, Lanna style boats and outlays of the traditional village.

11. Life in the old city
Here life size models are constructed of important markets including the one that used to exist in front of Wat Prasing temple. This depicts the character of trade and the way people made their living inside the city walls. To walk the streets was to enter a bustling communal world. In those days before electricity everyone form weavers to food sellers, repairmen and carpenters conducted their business outside as much as in. After the sun's heat faded near dusk gas lamps were lit and the smell of spice filled cooking filled the air. In the evenings music and dance were an important aspect of local culture. Young men courted women with songs called "Foi" accompanied with instruments such as the "Salo", a type of fiddle, the "Sueng", a type of guitar, or the Pia, a type of violin. Also in the evenings young boys would put rhinoceros beetles together to fight. All this is displayed with life sized models.

12. Buddhism In Lanna Culture
Buddhism began to flourish in Lanna during the 14th century when monks traveled to Sri Lanka to study the religion and its origin. Lanna Kings gave strong support to religious education and temples flourished. Buddhism remained strong in the 200 years when Lanna was under Burmese rule who introduced artistic and stylistic elements in temples and Buddha statues that can be seen today. In this room you will see the different Buddha statues and temples and how they have changes through the centuries by influences of the different cultures that lived in the region including Burmese, Shan and Chinese.

13. The Bai Sri Toon Pra Kwan and Phra Pokklao Room
"The Bai Sri Toon Pra Kwan" is a ritual ceremony is an original and ancient tradition of the Lanna People and explained in detail with a video presentation. The room is mostly dedicated to the memory of the official visit to Chiang Mai of King Prachadipok and Queen Rambnaibarni after the King's Coronation in 1925. The visit was highly symbolic as Bangkok and Lanna moved closer together to become the nation of Siam and later named Thailand.

14. Agricultural life.
This exhibit is dedicated to showing the way of life and the objects used by the farmers who live near the city both today and in the past. A video presentation shows aspects of life in the outlying communities in Chiang Mai province. There are many models, both life size and in miniature, showing a typical rural hillside farm scene. Photographs show various agricultural activities on various land altitudes and levels.

15. Life on the Hills
Pictures, and models in miniature and life size show the life style of the hill tribe people such as Karen, Yao, Homng lahu Akha and Lisu. Also on display are tools, clothing, bags, musical instruments and crafts made by the different groups. Each ethnic group have distinct yet related beliefs and have lived harmoniously in the hills surrounding Chiang Mai over the last 150 years. A Video presentation will teach you more about these fascinating people, their custom, traditions and way of life.

Summary
One of the first places you should visit while in Chiang Mai is the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center and Museum. This will bring you much closer to understanding the local people their culture, customs, heritage and beliefs and make your stay in Chiang Mai a rich rewarding experience you will remember for a life time.

Address:
Located on Phra Pokklao Road behind the Three Kings Statue. Open 8:30 AM to 5 PM everyday except Monday. Admission is 90 Thai Baht.

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