The Landscapes of the Highlands of Chiang Rai, Keng Tung and Jing hong: The Relation among the People, Economic and Religion

Abstract

Abstract

This research was aimed to find out the relation among  the Buddhist landscapes  on the highland areas and the mountains where “Phra Tat”(Buddha Relics) were existing , the people and their economies in Chiang Rai of Thailand, in Keng Tung of Republic of Union of Myanmar  and in Jinghong of People’s Republic of China (PRC). The research methodology used were the integration of ancient document study, field work investigation and the study of geographic information system. It was found that the classification of “Phra Tat” on the mountains could be classified into 5 groups  as  the following  1) the cliff shelter and the standing stone  2) the triangle mountains 3) the mountain at the middle of the town or  called “Pu Kao Mai Muang”  4. the small hills and 5) the cluster of small hills in the valley. Information obtained from the study could be explained the relation among them as the following.

Buddhism was a mechanism using to establish civilization and economic prosperity in the highland area by encouraging the literacy of the people and the moral of trade. Religion made various and different ethnic groups of people to be as a unity in the distance trade according to the discovery of “Phra Tat” on the sacred mountains along the trade routes. At the location of “Phra Tat”, the “Hua Kham” was found. It showed that religion was related to the power of the state. When establishing the city, it was composted  of cultural landscape  of triangle mountains which located at the area of the capillary water which it made Buddhism adjust and change itself all the time by being always ready to move Buddhist sites and monks to prosperous area.   

This research was the case to be compared and discussed to the case study by Leach E.(1954) “the Political Systems of Highland, Burma”. It was an illustration the case of Plang ethnic group who lived at the highland, believed in Buddhism,studied Tai language for trading business and had a knowledge of “Aksorn Dhama” which was a religious character. They still maintained their Plang ethnic identity even when they were working at the plain areas and having long relationship with the people at those places. They had never became Tai Khun or Tai Yai or Tai Lue and they were still keeping these highlands for making themselves prosperity and brought in resources from there to establish their own religious spaces.