Among the varieties of research topics in Thai studies, the Journal of Thai Khadi Research Institute's current issue, Volume 23, Number 1, is the most diverse. This issue's content included art history, historiography, cultural studies, folk wisdom, tourist studies, and a book review.

               The Round-shaped 108 Auspicious Buddha's Footprint in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Arts: A Study of Its Original and Developmental Styles,  written by Sirot Pinanratchathon, is the opening in the issue. His article aims to amplify the meaning of the signs that artisans in the past engraved on the 108 auspicious marks of the Buddha's footprint. He assumes that the theory of the great kingship is used, and that highlighting the wheel of Dhamma at the centre enhances the sacredness of the footprint. This   development is not only based on political and social entanglement, but also on the religious principle in Sukhothai kingdom. Almost a century  later, the Ayutthaya court's artisans are influenced by this developmental style. In his article, Sirot presents a comparative methodology for the   various artefacts created from the late twentieth to the late twenty-first century. The study shows that the continuation of the artisans' practice illustrates the reinterpretation of the religious canon, called Lokasart, or the mythology of the earth's existence, which was the most important at the time.

               As well as the art historical studies written by Naran Akharanitipirakool. Her study changes the perception that the Flora-roped Ornamentation on Buddha Images in the Rattanakosin Art, which can be seen in the work of a group of the court's artisans from the early eighteenth to the nineteenth century, or in the work of King Rama III, was characteristic of Siamese   Buddhism before the Dhammayut reformation. According to this study, the ornamental floral-robes on Buddha images are dated much further back to the Sukhothai period or the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. The ornamental floral-robed Buddha images are clearly influenced by the Sokhothai and Lanna Art. This style is recreated in Rattanakosin art at the metalsmith’s district, called Ban Chang Lor, in Bangkok, where soapstone moulds are still found today.

               The Style of Trit Headdresses on Human-shaped Sculptures from the Noen Thang Phra Archaeological Site in Sam Chuk District, Suphan Buri Province, written by U-bonwan Sokrai. This article leads the readers to analyze the form of headdresses, called Trit in Thai, which date back to Indian Art and Angkor Art. This article leads the readers to analyzes the form of headdresses, called Trit in Thai, which date back to Indian Art and Angkor Art from the   original places, but not influenced by archaeological sites inside Thailand.

               Tattanit Tongdaeng wrote an article titled Recognition of Chinese Cultural Values or the Endorsement of Fashion Consumption. Her cultural studies of Chinese classical opera in Thailand trace the history of Thai people’s patronage of these shows since the Ayutthaya period. Chinese classical operas were popular among the Thai people, serving as an indicator of a highly hierarchical society. Popularity among Thai and Chinese people in Ayutthaya differed. The study finds that appreciation of the opera was shaped by education in philosophy, virtue, morals, and Chinese culture among     Cantonese society in Ayutthaya. For Thai people, this is an exotic play from foreigners’ country. The writer of this article has made a keen point with the comparative study between Chinese and Thai classic opera, called Khon.   The latter is regarded either as sacred or as a ritual behind the Thai kingship. Consequently, Thai elites support Khon rather than Chinese opera because of their political awareness.

               The ‘royalist history’ may appear in the mode of writing narratives of the upper states of Siam. Chaipong Samnieng’ article, titled The Historiography of the Upper Siam States in the Lower Northern Region, criticizes the government-centered historical writings of the upper Siam states. The conventional writings are always entangled with the glory of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Rattanakosin, or the capital cities of each past time. This study finds that during the 1970s, there were attempts to write their own stories, which enriched Northern people and social conditions, but these efforts never gained prominence in Thai history. The nationalistic historiography has already overshadowed the local ones and placed the labels as an authorizing historical writing over the local stories.

               The local wisdom and tourist studies are in the article titled Knowledge Management Ecosystem to Convey and Preserve Arts and Crafts, Kolae Boat Model, in the Royal Craft Community, Khok Khian, Muang Narathiwat Province, by Abdullah Chelong and Mareekee Madeng. How cultural assets development, such as making the Kolae boat model, is described by quantitative methodology. Their article aims to propose a comprehensive and everlasting protection of the local community’s wisdom. The last article is A Study of Tourist Behavior Regarding Beliefs about Merit and Sin Influences Buddhist Tourism in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, written by Kittisak Klinmuenwai. This study is an example of tourist’s behavior within “religious tourism,” which is gaining popularity in Thai society.

               This Journal’s issue concludes with a book review written by Pannatat Jittakul on Contesting the Mekong Frontier: A History of  Disputed Territory by Tanapong Luekajornchai. His perspective on the introduction and analysis is interestingly useful. His review also continues the Journal of Thai Khadi Research Institute’s democratic space for the academic community, including Thai Studies scholars and for the public readership.

               In consequence, on behalf of the editorial team, the Journal of Thai Khadi Research Institute hopes at its best that wider academic perspectives are open to everyone. And encouraging all readership to pursue a new  academic frontier in ‘Thai Studies.’ And we certainly hope that the articles published in our Journal are persuasive. The editorial team thank you for the support and is open to suggestions for future improvements.

                                                                                                                                       Chief Editor