Chiang Mai History - Fang - Mae Chaem

[dirtydog]

Chiang Mai

Fang

According to the Yonok chronicle, Mueang Fang was built in 641 by King Lawa Changkarat. Later King Mengrai the Great reigned Fang before building Wiang Kumkam and Chiang Mai of Lanna Kingdom for one year around 1268. It seems that Mengrai used Mueang Fang for the base to invade Hariphunchai.

In 1910 the Mueang Fang was made a subordinate of Chiang Rai, then named Mueang Fang district. In 1925 it was reassigned to Chiang Mai. 1938 it the word Mueang was cut off from the name, which was then reserved for the capital districts on the provinces.

Mae Chaem

The district Mueang Chaem was created in 1908, consisting of the tambon Mae Thap,Tha Pha, Chang Khoeng and Mae Suek split off from Chom Thong. In 1917 it was renamed to Chang Khoeng, as the district office was located in that tambon. In 1938 it was reduced to a minor district (King Amphoe) and was a subordinate of Chom Thong district. 1939 it was renamed to Mae Chaem. In 1956 it was upgraded to a full district.

Sao Inthakin or Sao Lak Mueang

The city pillar was built when the founder of Chiang Mai, King Meng Rai, ruled the city in 1296. Located in front of Wat Chedi Luang and enshrined in a small Thai chapel, the pillar is made of log and kept underground. The Khao Inthakil or city pillar celebration is held annually in May.

The Former Chiang Mai-Lamphun Route

This route has a connection with the history of the ancient Ping Hang River. According to a historical tale of Chiang Mai, the Ping River used to flow past the eastern side of the ancient Wiang Kumkam Town, and also flowed past the eastern side of the ancient Hariphunchai Town (present-day Lamphun).

Phra Borom That Saen Hai

This temple is situated in Wiang Haeng, San Pa Tong District, which can be dated back to the early Buddhist times, was renovated in 1914. The pagoda is a unique blend of Myanmar and Lanna Thai architecture. According to the legend, King Naresuan the Great rested his troops here and built a pool at the foot of the hill for his use and that of his elephants.

Wiang Kum Kam

Wiang Kum Kam is an ancient city that was built in the reign of King Mengrai in 1286. The city was surrounded by ditches in every corner and they were used as reservoirs. From the discoveries, there are 20 ancient remains in and around Wiang Kum Kam include buildings and temples of Wat Chedi Liam, Wat Chang Kham, Wat Noi, Wat Pu Pia, Wat Ku Khao, Wat E Kang, Wat Hua Nong, and Wat Pu Song. The remains are dating from 21st –22nd Buddhist centuries.

Wiang Kum Kam is located in the southeast of Chiang Mai, between Km.3-4 along Chiang Mai-Lamphun route, Tambon Wang Tan, Saraphi district. Take the road at Nong Hoi Polce box to the Ko Klang Pa Kluai intersection and en route to Chedi Liam Police box. Wiang Kum Kam Information Center Tel: 0 5327 7322

Wat Chedi Liam or Chedi Ku Kham was built in 1288 in the reign of King Mengrai after he had authorised an administrative responsibility of Lamphun town to his minister, Aey Fah. King Mengrai established a town in the northeast of Chiang Mai for 5 years and then resettled a town near the Mae Ping River in 1277 and renamed it “Wiang Kum Kam”. In 1287, the stupa of Wat Jamthewi, Lamphun was rebuilt in Wiang Kum Kam for the locals to worship.

After that for hundreds years, the temple was left abandoned. In 1908, a Burmese tycoon renovated it, thus the temple has influences of Burmese architecture instead of its former Khmer style. Only some parts were rebuilt in Khmer architecture.

Wiang Tha Kan

Wiang Tha Kan is an ancient city wall dated back to the Hariphunchai period, built before the advent of King Mengrai. During excavations, sandstone and earthen Buddha images including earthen amulets, brown jars with bones and Chinese porcelains from the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) were found in the area of Tha Kan village. The best preserved of the ruins are the pagoda and the foundations of the viharn, constructed from bricks and laterite. Wiang Tha Kan is located about 34 kilometres to the south of Chiang Mai along Highway No.108.

King Naresuan Stupa

Located at Mueang Ngai Village. The locals built the stupa to mark the stay of King Naresuan the Great before he led his troop to invade Angwa in Myanmar in 1604.

[menostay]

Thanks for the post DD. Were that we able to make more of the local history come alive.

[Latindancer]

Chiang Mai was pretty wild hundreds of years ago. When I was there, I read that the city was abandoned TWICE due to too many tigers in the area.
It was also pretty wild in another way even up to the early eighties. One man I met
( who seemed like a sensible guy, not a macho idiot ), lived there then and said he never went out at night without a gun.

[DrAndy]

Chiang Mai was pretty wild hundreds of years ago. When I was there....

you are quite old!!

I was there some time ago and it was not particularly wild, just very dirty

they have certainly cleaned the place up, esp the moat (I saw a dead dog floating in it, besides all the other scum)