Revitalization of Cultural Heritage Virtue for Development of a Living Museum at the Wat Ket Area, Chiang Mai City, Thailand

Abstract

The research paper entitled ‘Revitalization of Cultural Heritage Virtue for Development of Wat Ket Area, Chiang Mai City Thailand as a Living Museum’ is of two objectives (1) to examine and analyze on the distinctive of social and cultural value in the Long Sa Pao tradition and (2) to revitalize and convey the value of the Long Sa Pao tradition as part of a living museum development.
This research was conducted by the qualitative research method. It focused on a historical study and interviews with community leaders, religious leaders, seniors, knowledgeable and technologists in the Wat Ket Community to collect data. The analysis of core values was carried out using logical suitability between the historical story or events that evoke this tradition; finally, the “virtue” was changed, showing a difference. The diff erence from Loy Krathong in part of the living museum and the uniqueness of t he social and cultural relations of the Wat Ket Community.
The results revealed that the Long Sa Pao Tradition was originated in the Haripunjaya period due to the great loss from the epidemic. It is a community merit-making tradition to dedicate merit to relatives and siblings who have passed away. In this research, it focused on the revitalization of the Long Sa Pao tradition of Wat Ket Community, Chiang Mai Province. The Long Sa Pao tradition has made better relationships among the people in the community. This showed the development potential of community-based tourism and retains an identity in the form of a living museum. This research, therefore, opens a new academic dimension to the practice of the Localization by deepening the values and power of the local capital and the practice of tourism and building a rejuvenating identity