"The use of oral history in writing and carrying out the - research on Thai history of the Sukothai period"

Abstract

As sistorians may have noted that earlier than the 14 th century A.D. the piece of land which is now called Thailand was divided into a great number of independent states whose leaders or kings were Thai. Among these states,sometimes by marriage between the prince and princess of different states and at other times by war,same of the states are joined together to become kingdoms. How ever,from primary sources (which are of a very small number) and secondary or tertiary sources of various natures (records,inscriptions, chronicles,etc.) we seem to obtain more materials for writing his torical facts from the history of the northern part of the present day Thailand especially that of Sukothai period. Although there are more materials concerning the northern most kingdoms which during the 14 century became one under the name of Lanna or later called Lanna Thai, there are more solid works in Thai, English, French and other languages of the Thai history of the Sukothai period which lasted approximately less than 150 years (A.D.1237-1378). The main season for this achievement, which actually is not nearly completed, ia through the attempt to interpret some of the well known pieces of Oral History and studied them comparatively with the more cons- tructive materials like Chinese records and correspondent notes as well as the stone inscriptions. So it is here attempted to give synopsis of some of the most obvious pieces of Oral History which &ave rise to the writing of Thai History which was first initiated . during the latter part of the reign of King Rama IV,better known in English as King Mongkut.