THE PLANNING AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN SUKHOTHAI AND CHIANGMAI ANCIENT CITY

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ROOM INFINITY 1-2

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From Land to Landscape; from Space to Place. Landscape Architecture and the Challenges of Contemporary Transformation. Catherin Bull

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CONGRESS DAY 1 : SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM - WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 2010

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From Brown to Green -- A Case Study of Nanhu Eco-city Central Park Landscape Planning in Tangshan, China Jie Hu

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Permanence and Metamorphosis: Heritage of Thai Cultural Identity in Landscape Pornthum Thumwimol

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Interact with the Land by Planning Policies Thad Patradoon


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in Hong Kong Wingsze (Vincci) Mak

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OR028: Advocating Low Carbon Eco-city Landscape Planning and

Design -- The First-Phase of Landscape Planning and Design for Zhongxin Eco-city in Tianjin

Xiaoyang Wang

OR032: The Comparative Study of the Planning and Physical

Characteristics Between Sukothai and Chiangmai Ancient City

Charaspim Boonyanant

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OR029: Attitudes and Methods of Urban New District Development -

Case Study of Longwan Central Business District Landscape Planning and Design in Huludao City

Yanan Cui

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Method for Landscape Management Planning in Thailand Wilasinee Suksawang

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OR030: Interesting and Wild Nature - The Preservation, Recovery,

Constrution of Wild Environment in Cities of China Zhao Jing

OR034: The Criteria for Developing Transport Development Zone

for Hospitality in Bangkok Tarawut Boonlua


THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PLANNING AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN

SUKHOTHAI AND CHIANGMAI ANCIENT CITY

Charaspim Boonyanant Landscape Architectural Program,

Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design, Maejo University, 63 M4. Nonghan, sansei,

Chiangmai, 50210

ABSTRACT

Sukhothai and Chiangmai Ancient City are important civilization sources of the ancient Siam empire. Sukothai was the first capital city of Siam Kingdom while Chiangmai City or Nakornping City was the capital city of northern Lanna Kingdom. Both cities are sources of unique and graceful art and culture that have played important roles in these regions for many centuries. As we all knows that Paya Mengrai, the first Lanna King, established Chiangmai, using Sukothai city planning during King Ramkhamhang era as a model. Therefore, physical characteristics of both ancient cities were distinctly similarly. However, there were many other factors that influenced appearances, characteristics, and evolution of their planning during a long period of time in the history. These resulted in the differences in details of their planning. The objective of this comparative study was to find summaries of the similarities and differences between the city planning appearances and characteristics of both Ancient Cities. Two cities were compared in the following subjects;1) Historical and Religious Background ,2) Geographical characteristics of the cities’ locations, 3) Religious beliefs and the cities forms, 4) Characteristics of Cities’ walls and moats, 5) Land uses Planning, 6) Water and Irrigation System. The method of study was to collect secondary data from related documents, and also primary data from site surveying, photography, and notes. The conclusion from the comparisons showed important factors that influenced appearances, characteristics, and evolution of those ancient cities’ planning, which would continuously promoted knowledge of the ancient city history in Thai Kingdom.

Keywords: physical characteristics, planning, ancient city, Sukhothai, Chiangmai.

1. INTRODUCTION

Among the capital cities of the territories in Southeast Asia that flourished in the 19th-20th century B.E., Sukkoth and Chiangmai cities are more noticeable than the others because they have been the centers of politics, Government, commercial religious and culture. It is interesting to observe the overall appearances of these two cities. One would find that their characteristics astonishingly look alike. Their shapes are almost in square Moreover, the geographical characteristics of their locations are also similar. What are seen are a mere coincidence, or made by any other reason. The similar looks are actually differences in detail? What causes the differences.? From such issues, the research was done. Its purpose was to find the conclusion of the format and physical

The Comparative Study Of The Planning And Physical Characteristics Between Sukhothai And Chiangmai Ancient City

IFLA APR Congress - Hospitality: The Interaction with Land

characteristics that are similar and differences between those two ancient cities. This reinforces the knowledge of the historic city planning and the influences that affected the appearance of the ancient city that are our country's heritage

This research is a Historical based Research. The studied site included an ancient Sukhothai and ancient Chiangmai cities. The research processes started from data collecting of both ancient cities To explore whether there was any studies or researches done before.? Data were collected from secondary data sources including libraries, and online information sources such as documentary, plan, maps, aerial photos, textbooks and research reports. After basic information was gathered, then, the scopes of content were defined and compared. It could be summarized in 6 topics as the following;

1.1 The historic and religion backgrounds1.2 Geographical characteristics of the cities’ locations1.3 Religious beliefs and the cities forms 1.4 The characteristics of the cities’ moats and walls1.5 Land use Planning1.6 Water and irrigation system

After clearly defining the scope of the study, data were collected in detail both from secondary data sources, as mentioned, and a field study from primary sources such as directly surveying in the ancient areas. Data were stored in forms of photos sketch and notes using a non-participation observation technique. Then, they were organized and classified into categories according to the topics. After that, they were analyzed, compared and be evaluated using the drawings, maps and photos for clearer and better understanding. Finally, the research findings were summarized.

Figure 1: The Monument of Three Kings who built Chiangmai city, Chiangmai.

2. CONCLUSIONS

2.1 The historic and religion backgroundsFrom the study, changing period of the two cities were in a corresponding cycle.

At the beginning, houses and other buildings were built mainly with wood. Then, thecities were developed imitating the characteristics of the powerful city of the region.The country gradually grew, along with the religious influences from various placeswere disseminated into the cities. Temples were built both in the aranwasi andkhamwasi areas. Subsequently, the cities faced years of wars and were invaded byenemies. They, then, declined and abandoned. Finally. They were renovated, obviouslyat the cities gates, moats, walls and temples. The different between these two cities wasthat Sukhothai was moved to a new location at Yom riverside areas, and the old citybecame abandoned. While the city of Chiangmai still located at the same old place andhad continued to grow until now. When comparing the duration of the physicalcharacteristic changes between the two cities, the ancient Chiangmai have lived longerthan the other. It changing period could be divided into 6 ranges, while the ancientSukhothai have a shorter life time. It changing era could be divided into 5 ranges only.Religious influences on these cities have some similarities and some differences at thesame time. These resulted from their locations, territories, and surrounding cities. Thecity of Chiangmai is located on the Ping River basin. It has been a center for trades andpolitics that could be extensively linked with other cities both at the Southern andNorthern areas. Therefore, it got influences from more diverse religions and culture thanSukhothai did. They consisted of spiritual and supernatural beliefs, the HinayanaBuddhism from Pagan and that in the Langkawong Nikaya, the astrology and politicalscience from Brahmin religion and the Western culture that came with Christianmissionary groups. The city of Sukhothai mainly got influences from spiritual andsupernatural beliefs, and the Hinayana Buddhism in the Langkawong Nikaya.However, most powerful religion affecting the two cities was the Hinayana Buddhismin the Langkawong Nikaya.

2.2 Geographical characteristics of the cities’ locations

Comparing geographical characteristics between the two ancient cities, it wasnoticed that there are similarities in the overview, but differences in details. In thesimilarities, each city situated on a plain of a river basin between a mountain and ariver, with a mountain to the West and a river to the East. Sukhothai is situated betweenPrathak mountain and Lamphun river, which flows into Yom river at the far East. Thecity of Chiangmai is located between Doi Suthep and Ping river, which flows fromNorth to South. For this reason, the city’s land slopes from West to East. Both ancientSukhothai and Chiangmai city have tropical monsoon climate. When comparing indetail, it was found that Doi Suthep found, which is located at the south of Chiangmaicity, is a part of the East Thanon Thongchai Mountains which is an important headwatersources of Northern Thailand. There are several streams flows from Doi Suthep downto the low plain which is the location of the city. For this reason, Chiangmai city hasabundant water. Compared to Prathak mountain on the West of the ancient Sukhothai,which is a small mountain. There was need to build a dam to irrigate water into the cityvia Saohor canal. Because of characteristics of climates and water resources,vegetations were diverse. They were both similarly and different depending on nature ofeach area. At the Chiangmai city, a diversity of vegetations was greater. There were

The Comparative Study Of The Planning And Physical CharacteristicsBetween Sukhothai And Chiangmai Ancient City


areas of tengrang, miscellaneous, and bog forest. While vegetations of the ancientSukhothai mostly were tengrang forests.

2.3 Religious beliefs and the cities’ form

Figure 2: the universe sculpture, Wat Prathathariphunchai, Lamphun.

In addition to the climate of the area, religious beliefs were primarily important factorsthat affected characteristics and shapes of the ancient Sukhothai and Chiangmai cityplans. Particularly, their almost square shape, which derived from Angkor Thom city. Itwas built during the reign of King Chaiworaman VII, more than 800 years ago. Itreflected the characteristics of the universe as believed in Vajrayana Buddhism. Tobuild the city of Sukhothai, the evidences of this influence showed in the planning ofPrapailuang Temples and the shape of ancient Sukhothai moats and walls, dated back tothe 18th century B.E. Subsequently, in the 19th century B.E. during the reign of KingRamkhamhaeng the great of Sukhothai, Paya Mengrai, then, imitates a city squareshape to be used as the plan of Chiangmai city. However, after time passed the twocities got different belief influence from Buddhism that spread from different places.The ancient Sukhothai received the belief of the Hinayana Buddhism in theLangkawong Nikaya from Nakhon Si Thammarat. This affected the temples’ plans, forexample, the central sanctuaries were located on islands in the middle of ponds called“traphang”. The other example was the building of the pagoda for the Buddha's relic asa mind center of people. For the city of Chiangmai, there were many religious beliefsinfluencing the physical characteristics of the city beside of the square shape planningthat derived from Sukhothai. Thay were; 1) spiritual and supernatural beliefs of lua, asshown at the locating of the Inthakhin post as the city center; 2) beliefs about astrologyand astronomy were introduced to locate land uses of the city; 3) influence of theHinayana Buddhism from Pagan and that in the Langkawong Nikaya affected the

19-21 January 2011, Bangkok, Thailand

characteristics and locations of the temples both in khamwasi and aranwasi areas. Thecity of Chiangmai received more diverse religious belief influences than the ancientSukhothai did. Because it had relationships that linked to other surrounding cities.Moreover, it has lived longer lives than Sukhothai did.

Figure 3: The Stupa at Wat Prapailuang, the first city center of Sukhothai

Figure 4: Wat Trapangtong is located in the middle of a “Trapang”or a large pond, Sukhothai

The city building science that was compared in this research included surveytechniques for remote positions using to construct the cities’ moats, walls, and religiousplaces. It was considered that the plan orientation of majors religious places, moats andwalls of Sukhothai was not aligned but twisted from the North-South and the East-Westaxis Compared to the map of Chiangmai city, it was found that the plan direction wasclose to these axises. In addition, the doors were positioned close to the center of thewalls. These pointed out that it had better surveying techniques than Sukhothai did.There were also some evidences showing that principles of astrology were used asguidelines for the city planning. It was indicated that the city’s philosophers andengineers had astronomical knowledge through astrology. They could calculate anddetermine Talerngsok day1 when a day time period is equal to a night time one. As aresult, they could accurately direct remote construction. While the direction ofstructures of the ancient Sukhothai were vary in each group, caused by differentsurveying techniques in each construction range that was not as accurately as that ofChiangmai city.

1 Talerngsok day is the old Thai news year day, usually in April of each year.



2.4 The characteristics of the cities’ moats and walls

2.4.1 shape and size

The shape of Chiangmai city plan is similar to a square than that of Sukhothaicity which is quite rectangle. Many reasons might be assumed. They were; 1) caused bythe inaccuracy of site surveying for remote distances of Sukhothai’s engineers. While,the engineers who built Chiangmai city were more skilful. or 2) The ancient Sukhothai’sbuilders did not see a square shape planning as important, while those of Chiangmai citydid. Concerning the sizes of these two cities, they were similar in size.

2.4.2 the changes of the cities’ moats and walls

Because the city of Chiangmai has lived longer in the history more than theancient Sukhothai did, therefore it had been renovated and reconstructed many times,both for political reasons and to respond to the living uses. While the ancient Sukhothaiwas renovated only during a city’s renovation period, approximately, at the 21st centuryB.E., after the city had been abandoned for a long time. The original styles of the twocities’ walls and moats are created from the clay. and there was only one layer. Later, itwas reconstructed with bricks to prevent the cities from invasion of enemies. Majorcharacteristic changes of Chiangmai walls occurred in the reign of King Rama V ofSiam Kingdom, when the walls were graded and destroyed. The walls and doors of thecity seen nowadays were newly created later.

Figure 5: A moat of the ancient Sukhothai city nowadays

Figure 6: A Chiangmai’s wall nowadays

19-21 January 2011, Bangkok, Thailand

2.5 Land uses Planning

The locations of important temples and palaces of the two compared cities weredifferent. At Sukhothai city, they were located closely in the center areas. But, at thecity of Chiangmai, Their locations were separately. This resulted from different beliefinfluences. Sukhothai city planning still got more influence about the center of theuniverse derived from Khom than that of Chiangmai city did, since this belief hadbecome less important. Therefore, to design the ancient Sukhothai plan, 2 direction axiswas given priority. While at the city of Chiangmai, a priority was given to the East-West direction axis. It linked from Ping river, passing the city’s East gate, through thecity center, to Pra Sing Temple, which is the center of worship of the city. Locations oftemples and houses of the ancient Sukhothai city were mainly on the East areas. Whileat the city of Chiangmai, they spread throughout the city. This was because ofgroundwater resources for consumption of Sukhothai city had shortage in the Westareas. Unlike the city of Chiangmai, there were plentiful of groundwater sources overall of its areas. Forest areas of both cities were on the West which related to the locationof the aranwasi temples located on the hillside. Both cities have an important Templelocated on the West side of the mountain. They are Wat Saphanhin of Sukhothai cityand Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep of Chiangmai city. The location of agricultural areas wereat the North and East plains of River basins. But, the southern areas of Sukhothai citywere highland so that they became orchard and forests. While, the southern areas ofChiangmai city were low plains as those in the North and East which suited foragriculture.

2.6 Water and irrigation systems

The development of water and irrigation system of Sukhothai city arose as solutionsto solve the problem of the lack of water during summer and flooding during rainyseason, which was considered very successful. In the city of Chiangmai, there were isplentiful natural water sources that were enough to support a large city with a largeamount of population. However, the significant changes of the city of Chiangmai duringthe past century had destroyed most of evidences of the historic water and irrigationsystems.

Figure 7: Praruang dam was built to irrigate water into Sukhothai city via Saohor canal.

The conclusion from the comparison showed important factors that influencedappearances, characteristics, and evolution of those ancient cities’ planning. First, therewere differences of geography in a regional level which resulted in the difference of thelocal geography. Chiangmai has more plentiful water resources than Sukhothai. As aresult, they were different in plants, settlements, and water drainage systems. Another



factor that influenced the cities’ forms were religious beliefs, especially, that about theuniverse of Wacharayana, a Buddhist doctrine from the Angkor Thom. It was applied tobe consistent with the local religious beliefs of each city. However, the one playing themost important roles was the Hinayana Buddhism, the Langkawong Nikaya. To buildthe square shape cities, advance principles in astronomy and mathematics were used. Itwas supposed that they came from Brahman Religious via the royal teachers andastrologers. The characteristics of both cities’ walls and moats were similar in shapesbut different in sizes, materials, the locations and shapes of the cities’ doors andfortresses. The land use planning of both cities were similar at the areas outside of thecities’ walls, but different at those inside which depended on the religious and astrologybeliefs. It also depended on water resources which were an important factor for humansettlements. There were more changes in the physical characteristics of Chiangmai citythan those in Sukhothai ancient city. Because it has been the center that couldconveniently link to other cities in Ping River basin. Moreover, it has had a longerflourish period than Sukhothai ancient city.

3. REFERENCE

Saraya, T., 1996. Thai Civilization. Ancient Cities, Bangkok.

Saraya, T., 2004. Before being Thai people. Asian Study Institute. ChulalongkornUniversity, Bangkok

Rojanastien, B., 2005. Legend of Thai architecture. Bangkok, Bangkok.

Krairerks, P. 2001. Thai civilization: Basic Art history I, The art before the 19th CenturyB.E. Amarin Printing and Publishing, Bangkok.

Coedès, Y., (prani wongthes, translators) 2003. The city of Angkor Thom and AngkorWat. Mathichon, Bangkok.

Wallibhodom, S., 1989. The Ancient cities in Sukhothai Kingdom. Thai StudyInstitute, Thammasart University, Bangkok.

Wallibhodom, S., 1997. The capital cities of Thailand. Ancient Cities, Bangkok.

Wallibhodom, S., 2002. The archaeological history of Lanna. Mathichon, Bangkok.

Wongthes, S., 2005. Sukhothai Territory: the Ideal State. Mathichon, Bangkok.

Dhamrikul. S., 1996. Lanna land. Ancient Cities, Bangkok.

Premchi. S., 1979. Buddhism in Thailand. Thai Voice, Bangkok.

Leksukhum. S., (2005). Ancient Thai technical work. Ancient Cities, Bangkok.

THE PLANNING AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN SUKHOTHAI AND CHIANGMAI ANCIENT CITY

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