An Analytical Study of Ancient Thai Laws in Phitsanulok Province
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Abstract
This research article aims to study the physical characteristics and content of ancient legal manuscripts in Phitsanulok province. It is a qualitative study employing documentary research methodology to examine ancient legal manuscripts. The source materials comprise 46 manuscripts totaling 2,887 folding-book pages from the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University. The researcher transliterated the texts as mentioned earlier into contemporary Thai. The study was found that all manuscripts were recorded on white Thai book using black ink. Five categories of documents were identified, with the most complete category comprising 18 manuscripts. Each page contains 4 to 11 lines of text. Documents recorded in 3 types of compositions: first, 30 copies recorded in prose; Second, 14 copies recorded in prose and poetry; and third, 2 copies recorded in poetry. It was recorded in 3 types of letters and languages: first, 26 copies recorded in Thai letters; second, 19 copies recorded in Thai letters, Thai language, and Khom letters, Pali language; and third, 1 copy recorded in Thai letters, Thai language, and Thai letters, Pali language. The oldest ancient legal manuscript from Phitsanulok province is Ancient Law of Wat Krab Phuang Nuea (3)/0373, dating back to 1762 (B.E. 2305), during the late Ayutthaya period. The content found 28 matters of the manuscripts largely resembles that of the Three Seals Law (Kotmai Tra Sam Duang) from the early Rattanakosin period. Similar sections include the Criminal Code (Phra Aiyakan Bet Set), Royal Proclamation (Phrarachaprarop), Law on Slavery (Phra Aiyakan Thas), Legal Principles (Lak Chai), Law on Husband and Wife (Phra Aiyakan Laksana Phua Mia), Law on Witnesses (Phra Aiyakan Laksana Phayan), Law on Legal Complaints (Phra Aiyakan Laksana Rapfong), and Law on Inheritance (Phra Aiyakan Laksana Moradok), among others. This can be suggested that the ancient laws of Phitsanulok province were significantly influenced by the Three Seals Law. The present study contributes in order to expand the scope of research on ancient manuscripts in the lower northern region of Thailand.
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