Background
of Lanna Scripts ^ Buddhist Practice
The word, "Lanna"
can be found quite commonly used in day to day activities in Chiangmai (for an instance,
the Royal Lanna Hotel, Lanna Spa, restaurant, menu of some Thai cuisine, Business
establishments & even a hospital uses it as its name). This is not surprising
as Lanna Kingdom, who was founded by King Mengrai (1259-1317) made its capital (to be
very specific, it was 12th April 1296 and thus, Chiangmai has celebrated its 700th
birthday in 1996). The Mengrai Dynasty, along with establishment of the famous tri-alliance
with King Ramkhamhaeng's Sukhothai Kingdom and King Ngam Muang of Phayao spread their
influences wide across the central to entire northern Thai region. The Lanna Kingdom,
in particular has even extended its territorial control across northern Shan states
of Burma and Laos. In 1550, Burmese conquered & ended the Lanna Kingdom and actually
made Chiang Mai under their protective wings for nearly two centuries. Eventually,
the rise of King Taksin, who formed a military alliance with others, fought &
freed Chiangmai from Burmese occupation. Complicated as it may present in political
arena since then - even under the King Rama IV & V eras, but eventually Chiang
Mai was finally being unified in the process of conversion from Siam to Kingdom
of Thailand in 1939.
Thus, Lanna
in a local interpretation, "Millions acres of Rice Fields" - it
means a lot of meaning to the locals, things that associated with Lanna is still
very much favored by people at the North. Actually, Northern Thai people have quite
a different taste from its community from other parts of Thailand - like the sticky
rice (something pronounced as "kao niow dahm") is one common daily
food input.
In relation
to Lanna scripts - " The Tipitaka was first written in Sri Lanka, on
palm leaves in the Singhalese script, in the year 433 of the Buddhist Era.
....In Thailand, the scriptures were first inscribed in the Great Buddhist Council
at Chet Yod Monastery in Chiang Mai in 2020 of the Buddhist Era (A.D. 1477). The
script used then was the "Lanna script..." - George Sioris, President,
Center for Asian Studies. Is this a recovery process of the ancient Buddhist Lanna
scripts ? No. ancient Lanna scripts are still being practiced by some monks
at the northern Thai region. One of the greatest & most respected Buddhist figure
among all Lanna monks was probably Kruba Srivichai - where many Thai people
has even regarded him as the most famous Lanna Monk of this century. He was given
a monkshood title as "Nak Bun Haeng Lanna" - something like
a living Lanna Saint. For those who may be more interested in Lanna
form of Buddhist practices, the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun has many exhibits
of development history and archaeological items found from the Dvaravati, Hariphunchi,
Lanna and Rattanakosin periods.
So, to the
many monks in Northern Thailand, practicing Lanna ways of chanting, blessing or meditation
can be very difficult as recovery of old Lanna styles and methods in every forms
for the application can mean a life time process of learning.
