Cultural Heritage and Community Empowerment for Creative Economy in Mae Chan Municipality, Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

              This research is on cultural heritage with community potential development to creative economy in Mae Chan sub-district municipality, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province. The research objective is to study the local history of the old town, local arts and culture in Mae Chan sub-district municipality and community potential for building cultural heritage in Mae Chan sub-district municipality, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province. The study was found that Mae Chan municipality is a community that has accumulated a long history including being a multicultural society with a variety of ethnic groups. In particular, Tai Yai ethnic group and Chinese people that play an important commercial and economic role in Mae Chan municipality area. The study results were divided Mae Chan local history into 4 periods as follows: Phase 1 Before the period of Chiang Saen revival, Phase 2 Chiang Saen district, Phase 3 Moving Chiang Saen to elevate the status of Mae Chan district, Phase 4 Cutting Phaholyothin road with Rice trading community to Mae Chan today (1933 present) and there is a general pattern of lifestyle, livelihoods and traditions in Lanna style according to the year cycle such as Songkran tradition (Mueang New Year), Pour water on the hands of revered elders and ask for blessing tradition, Destiny tradition, Tan Guay Salak tradition, Loi Krathong tradition (Yi Peng month), Tam Bun Poi tradition (merit making) and merit making on various occasions by religious significance, the beliefs of the people in the Mae Chan municipality area are related to the sacred things that are worshiped and inherited including causing a ritual of beliefs that have been adhered until the present. Those are demonstrated the potential for accumulating cultural styles and lifestyle in the area that can be used to strengthen the identity and cultural heritage in the future.