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

THE LION PRINCE AND RELATED REMARKS ON
NORTHERN HISTORY
Manit Vallibhotama, tattwiin sitihanavatikumara, chapap sop gan, Commission
for the Publication of Historical Documents, Office of the Prime
Minister, Bangkok 2516
The present publication, together with other recent articles may
signal a renewal of interest in the historiography of northern Thailand, I
Although a number of important studies of particular texts have appeared
over the past half century, there has been no modern attempt to deal
critically with the many problems posed by these texts or to reconcile
their contradictions and write the history of the northern region.
Coedes' translation and study of the Jinakalamali bas probably
influenced more western students than any other work on northern
history, 2 but the Jinakiilama/i, even while covering some of the same
ground, disagrees with the Chiang Mai chronicle in certain important
respects. The latter is one of several northern works included in tbe
collection of Not ton, who translated them into French but neglected, as
Mus pointed out, to criticize his sources,3 Wyatt's edition of the Nan
chronicle bas made many students aware of the history of that province,
but bow many are aware that it contradicts at times the Chiang Mai
chronicle, or that there are two parts to the Nan chronicle which overlap
1) Donald K. Swearer, "Myth, Legend and History in the Northern Thai Chronicles,
''JSS LXH (1), Jan 19.74; Georges Condominas, "Notes sur l'histoire
lawa a propos d'un lieu-dit lua' (lawa) en pays karen' (Ampboe Chom Thong,
Changgwat Chiengmai)" and Srisak Vallibhotama, "um"lnt,flllJ'lttJ [The Region
of Hariphunchai)", both in Art and Archaealag.Y in Thailm~d. The Fine Arts
Department, Bangkok, 1974; A.B. Griswold and Prasert ~a Nagara, "Epigraphic
and Historical Studies No, 13, The Inscription of Wat Pra Yiin," JSS LXII
(t), Jan 1974. The last will be cited as EHS 13, and their other "Epigraphic
and Historical Studies" as EHS plus number.
2) G. Coedes, "Documents sur l'histoire politique et religieuse du Laos occidental",
Bulletin de l'Ecale Francaise d'Extreme-Orient, XXV (1-2), janvier-juin
1925, pp. 1-200. Cited as "Documents".
3) Camille Notton, Annates du Siam, 3 vols., Paris, 1926-19 32; Paul Mus, Compte•
rendu, Camille Notton, Annates du Siam, BEFEO 30, 1930, pp. 466 ff., seep.
467, n. 2.