Three Kings Monument | CNX Ep 6
What is the Three Kings Monument All About?
Lᴜᴋᴇ Wᴀʟᴋs' MISSION today is to learn all about the THREE KINGS of CHIANG MAI, find great coffee, eat some delicious northern Thai food, watch some football and take his daughter to a cool skating area. Luke is looking for fun, some adventure and also is seeking to learn about the history of Chiang Mai - will he find these things?
CNX ADVENTURES
Chiang Mai, Thailand เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่. Chiang Mai เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่ Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Chiang Mai is a city in mountainous northern Thailand and it was capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom until 1558.
Three Kings Monument
พระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์สามกษัตริย์:
At roughly the center of the walled city, in the district where the former rulers of Chiang Mai built their palaces, stands the monument to the 'Three Kings' -- King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai; his good friend King Ramkamhaeng of Sukothai; and King Ngam Muang of Payao.
Three Kings Monument Square was made in 1984 as a tribute to the three founders of Chiang Mai.
Three Kings Monument If we turn to the monument, we will find that the middle one is Phaya Mangrai, the right one is Phaya Ramkamhaeng, and the left one is Phaya Ngam Muang.
It was Phaya Mengrai (Mengrai), the first king of the Mangrai dynasty, who gathered Phaya Ngam Muang and Phaya Ruang (Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng the Great) together and they drank vows that they would not invade the city against each other. The three kings made an oath and drank water mixed with blood from the finger of Mengrai’s hand. According to legend, King Mangrai secured a pact between the three kings in 1287 at around the same time the other kings were feuding after one of kings seduced the other’s wife.
After this vow they met to discuss where to build the city and it was agreed that the plain along the Ping River with Doi Suthep Mountain to the west was the best location.
King Mangrai:
King of the Lanna Kingdom from 1292 to 1311. King Mangrai founded Chiang Mai in 1296 as the new capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
King Ram Khamhaeng:
Ruler of the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279 to 1298. The Sukhothai Kingdom encompassed large parts of Northern, Central and Southern Thailand and together with the Lanna Kingdom the combined territory represents a significant proportion of what is modern day Thailand. King Ram Khamhaeng is a much celebrated former Thai monarch credited with creating the modern Thai alphabet and founding the ceramics industry in Thailand. The creator of the Thai alphabet, King Ramkhamhaeng was ruler of Sukhothai the person who established Theravada Buddhism as one of Thailand’s main religions. His statue in Sukhothai shows him writing.
King Ngam Muang:
Monarch of the Phayao Kingdom from 1258 to 1296. King Ngam Muang was very much the junior of the three kings as the Phayao Kingdom was smaller and less well resourced than the Sukhothai or Lanna Kingdoms. King Ngam Muang is an important folk hero in Phayao as he halted an invasion attempt by King Mangrai in 1276 by forming an alliance with the Lanna Kingdom, which was a symbolically important act as it demonstrated that the people of Thailand could be better off by joining together rather than fighting.
This friendship was perhaps the most important and famous friendship in Thai history, and the historical events in the context of which this friendship was entered into are defining moments in the history of the north of Thailand. The friendship is also of cultural significance because it is symbolic of the coming together of once separate regions of Thailand in an alliance to create the Kingdom of Siam in a part of South East Asia which was frequently invaded by Kings from neighbouring countries and often internally divided with different regions of Thailand at war with each other. The Three Kings Monument shows the three kings working together to plan the then new city of Chiang Mai in the 13th Century, and as such is one of older examples of people from different parts of what would become Thailand working together for a common purpose.
Chiang Mai City Art & Cultural Center
The old provincial hall was built in 1924 when the government in Bangkok decided to exert full control over the former Lanna kingdom, which up to then had been an autonomous region of Siam.
The hall stands on the site of a palace of one of the former princes of Chiang Mai. Lanna palaces were typically built of wood, and each successive king would usually tear down the previous ruler's buildings and build his own.
Requiring more space, the provincial administration was moved to new buildings outside the old city and by 1996 had completely abandoned the old hall. The city administration requested permission to use the building and renovations were completed by 1999.
This area was once the old city center since the King Mengrai era, where the “Inthakhin” ancient city pillar was situated, before it was moved to Wat Chedi Luang.
The site of museum was an inheritance of Phra Chao Kawilorot Suriyawong, the 6th ruler of Chiang Mai, from Princess Chao Dara Ratsami. After the municipality administrative reform, she then granted the property to the government. The building was built in 1924, which was used as the central administrative office of the Monthol Phayap - Siam’s administrative unit, and later served as the Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai.
Kawilorot Suriyawong (Thai: พระเจ้ากาวิโลรสสุริยวงศ์) was the sixth Ruler of Chiang Mai. He was the son of Kawila, the first Ruler of Chiang Mai. He was born on c.1799, became the ruler of Chiang Mai on 1854, and died on 1870. In 1860, he created a great bell for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and during his reign he renovated several temples and made considerable contributions to enhancing Buddhism in the Lanna Kingdom.He married Princess Usa and had two daughters: Thipkraisorn and Ubon Wanna. Thipkraisorn went on to marry King Inthawichayanon of Chiang Mai and they had a daughter who became Princess Dara Rasmi.
Chiang Mai History & Lannaa History
Chiang Mai was Founded by King Mengrai in 1296 and fell to the Burmese in 1558 without them even putting up a fight. Multiple wars were fought back and forth to recapture Chiang Mai but it wasn’t until 1774 when Chao Kawila of Lampang and Phraya Chaban of Chiang Mai sided with the Siamese that the Burmese lost control of the city. Chiang Mai’s ancient walls were made the same year as the city itself in 1296 and were designed to appease divine spirits. The Lanna Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields was located in northern Thailand from the 1200s all the way through to the 1700s (13th century to 18th century). The Lanna Kingdom was an Indianised State, meaning that it was heavily influenced by Indian culture and religion. The capital was moved around a lot by King Mengrai. Chiang Rai was made capital in 1262 later. Later in 1296 King Mengrai changed the capital to Chiang Mai. Lan Na, One of the first major Tai (or Siamese) kingdoms in Thai history. It was founded by Mangrai (r. c. 1259–1317) in the northern region of present-day Thailand; its capital was the city of Chiang Mai. Lan Na was a powerful state and a centre for the spread of Theravada Buddhism. Under Tilokaracha (r. 1441–87) it was famous for its Buddhist scholarship and literature. It remained independent until it was conquered by Myanmar (Burma) in the 16th century. The Siamese did not reassert control over the area until the 19th century. Chiang Mai was built as the capital of the Lanna kingdom in 1296 and was the centre of power in the North for more than two centuries.
Chiang Mai Places of Interest:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1sK1POPDU6fQBgLI72TyARaTZH79hy4d9&usp=sharing
🚶🚶Lᴜᴋᴇ Wᴀʟᴋs🚶🚶
Chiang Mai Place To Visit:
Improvise
Goodsouls
Three Kings Monument
Chiang Mai Historical Centre
Dreamer Square
YAWK Bar
Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang
🚶🚶Lᴜᴋᴇ Wᴀʟᴋs🚶🚶
Title: What is the Three Kings Monument All About? | CNX Ep 6
Created by: Luke Walks
Source: https://youtu.be/v2fEn1m5f1g
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Lᴜᴋᴇ Wᴀʟᴋs🚶 Video #034CNX
