The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

106 John P. Ferguson and Sbalardchai Ramitanondh
fn this paper we propose to concentrate upon the ecclesiastical
hierarchy in the northern province of Chiengmai with particular
emphasis upon the city district (Amphur Muang) itself. Because the
North has had a vivid history of resistance to religious centralization
(Keyes, 1971), this type of study may, we feel, also shed some light upon
the success of the Bangkok leadership and their local representatives in
transmitting their particular point of view to this northern section of
the kingdom. Our methodology was to study available written materials
on the rnonkhood in Thai and English and to interview 16 out of the 18
commune heads (Chao Khana Tambon) in Cbiengmai city district, 16 out
of the 19 district heads (Chao Khan a Amphur ), all the provincial officers
(Chao Khana Changwat), and the regional head (Chao Khana Phak) for the
region. For the sake of comparison, interviews were held with a district
head monk and a provincial bead monk in Mae Sariang and Lampang,
respectively. To discover the lay point of view, we interviewed the lay
provincial head of the Education Department of Religion in Chiengmai.
We also talked frequently with lay Buddhists in the province, particularly
those active in wat affairs, members of lay committees, former monks,
and young people at the high school and college level.
The major
emphasis of the study, however, was upon interviewing monks directly
at all levels of the provincial hierarchy.
Roots of the Hierarchy in History
Some historical background is necessary to understand today's
patterns of Sangha organization. Details regarding monastic hierarchy
are not plentiful for the periods before the present dynasty (Reynolds,
1971: 186), but royal patronage is evident from the Sukhotai period,
starting with Rama Khamhaeng's 13th and 14th century support of
reformist forest monk groups (who traced their orthodoxy to Ceylon)
and continuing with the royal promotion ofrelics enshrined at important
chedis (Damrong, 1926:6-21 and Dbani Nivat, 1965:5-8). In Chiengmai
Province at least. five monasteries have traditions that trace their
relics back to that period. Thus royalinterest in the Buddhist religion
is nothing new to Chiengmai.