History and landscape culture of the Amphawa community in the early Rattanakosin period: Its importance as an area of the royal crown

Abstract

This research article aimed to 1) study the geoecological factors influencing the emergence of the Amphawa community in the early Rattanakosin period, 2) examine the history of Mae Klong–Amphawa and the role of the Na Bang Chang queen's lineage, and 3) investigate the connections of the Amphawa community as an area for nurturing Thai arts and culture. This qualitative research employed a historical research approach, using primary and secondary documents, oral history interviews with community elders, local sages, local wisdom teachers, and knowledgeable community members, together with observations of physical conditions and cultural landscapes in Amphawa and surrounding areas. The study focused on B.E. 2325–2367, with retrospective examination of the Ayutthaya and Thonburi periods to explain historical development. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive analysis. The research findings revealed that 1) the Amphawa community possessed geoecological conditions conducive to settlement and community development, including its downstream location along the Mae Klong River, interconnected rivers and canals, abundant natural resources, and proximity to the capital. These conditions facilitated transportation, trade, and livelihoods, while the geographical characteristics may also have provided refuge during wartime; 2) Mae Klong–Amphawa held historical significance as a transportation route and strategic area, particularly during the events involving Bang Kung Camp in the Thonburi period. The area was connected to the Chakri Dynasty through Queen Amarindra, King Rama II, and the Na Bang Chang queen's lineage, linking local history with national history; and 3) the Amphawa community played a role in transmitting local arts, culture, and wisdom, particularly Thai traditional music, craftsmanship, and food culture, through family networks, local wisdom teachers, and traditional music schools. These cultural practices were associated with the natural resources and ways of life of local people. However, the continuity of cultural transmission from the Ayutthaya period requires further investigation and additional historical evidence. The knowledge gained from this research demonstrated the interrelationship between geoecological conditions as the foundation of settlement, historical geography as a factor shaping community identity, and community networks as mechanisms for transmitting the cultural heritage of Amphawa.