The Persistence and Transition of Wood Carving Handicrafts in Kiu Lae Noi Community, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study the persistence and transition of wood carving handicrafts in Kiu Lae Noi Community, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. The study employed a quantitative survey research approach. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to 70 members of the wood carving handicraft group in Kiu Lae Noi Community using purposive sampling, and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

 The findings revealed that wood carving handicrafts in Kiu Lae Noi Community continue to persist as a form of local wisdom transmitted through kinship systems and learning by doing. Most artisans are elderly craftsmen with more than 30 years of experience in wood carving. The community’s specialized products mainly consist of animal carvings, particularly elephant sculptures, which represent an important local identity. However, the handicraft sector is currently facing several challenges, including low income, a shortage of younger artisans, and changing market demands. At the same time, the community has attempted to transition its wood carving products in terms of product design, production processes, and marketing by extending cultural values and local identity toward economic value creation. This includes designing products in smaller, portable, and more functional forms, integrating modern technologies with traditional wisdom to improve production efficiency, and utilizing social media as a channel for promotion and market expansion.The study further indicates that the persistence and transition of wood carving handicrafts are not separate processes, but rather represent the community’s adaptive process in integrating local wisdom, cultural identity, and development concepts in order to sustain wood carving handicrafts alongside economic value creation within the context of contemporary society.