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

MONKS AND HIERARCHY IN NORTHEHN THAILAND 125
Head.l 3 Since the latter lives up the mountain at Wat Phra That Doi
Suthep, be commutes almost daily to his former monastery in town,
where the secretary now lives. With such delegations of duties, the
Provincial Head manages to perform his responsibilities.
In addition to carrying out the orders he received from those above
him in the hierarchy, the Provincial Head also must communicate his
orders to the 18 District Heads (Chao Khana Amphur) below him. In an
area where only a few Chiengmai monasteries have telephones, such communication
can consume time. One solution to that problem is to
arrange that the residences of seven of the District Heads be in Chiengmai.
The five most distant districts to the south of the city are administered
by monk officials who live in Chiengmai.14 All the nine central
districts have district heads that live there.rs There are two districts
fairly far north of the city administered by monks living in Chiengmai
city, but the two districts the farthest north are staffed by resident District
Heads.I6 Opinion among the district officials varies as to the balance
of the good and bad in this system. Clearly, it is easier for the seven
centralized District Heads to communicate to the Province Head, but it
is also quite clear that it is difficult for the monks and laymen in the
districts to deal personally with their head monk.17 One District Head
said he was ready to leave his quite prosperous monastery in Chiengmai
that he bus put a whole career into promoting and to go out permanently
13) It is interesting that the teacher of the present Provincial Head (Chao Khana
Changwat) was not only abbot of this same monastery (Wat Thungyu) but also
a Chao Khana Changwat as well. We can see in this instance how monastic
power is clearly related to abbotship of key Chiengmai monasteries.
14) The districts are Mae Chaem, Omkoi Hot, Chom Thong, and San Patong.
15) These districts are Hang Dong, Chiengmai, Saraphi, San Kampbaeng, Doi
Saket, San Sai, Mae Rim, Samoeng, and Mae Taeng.
16) The two Chiengmai based amphur's are representing Chieng Dao and Phrao,
and the most distant districts with home rule are Fang and Mae Ai.
1 7) The Regional Head (Chao Khana Phak) told us that he occasionally receives
complaints from Chiengmai Province that the Amphu7' Heads (Chao Khana
Amphu7') are not available enough to the people and monk in the districts.
But he seems to accept the situation as unavoidable for the present.