Journal of Lanna Societies

Ordination: Beliefs in Nibbana to Contemporary Transformations in Lanna Society

2025-11-11T14:22:35+07:00

This academic article aims to study Buddhist ordination, with a particular focus on the context of Lanna society, a region where beliefs and culture have been profoundly intertwined with religion from the past to the present. Traditionally, ordination in Thai society is rooted in the pursuit of liberation from suffering, the expression of gratitude to one's parents, and the upholding of customs and traditions. Concurrently, ordination reflects the intricate relationship between religion, culture, and social structure. In Lanna, specifically, ordination holds significance both spiritually and as a ritual that fosters community solidarity.

However, the context of ordination has evolved over time. The rise of technology, consumerism, and the commercialization of Buddhism have impacted the understanding, objectives, and behaviors of those entering monkhood, as well as the practices of the clergy. This article's analysis is structured around three key themes: (1) the concept of ordination from past to present, including its meaning, purpose, and historical context; (2) the socio-cultural context of ordination in Lanna society, particularly its adaptation to modern consumer culture; and (3) the transformation of the concept of ordination over time, including deviations from the original principles of Buddhism. The sociological theories of Émile Durkheim and Max Weber are employed to analyze these structural and social power shifts.

The article posits that while the forms and motivations for ordination in contemporary Lanna society have changed, its spiritual, cultural, and social values remain critically important. It continues to serve as a ritual that promotes social discipline and as a vital mechanism for the sustainable preservation of Buddhism. The article concludes with a recommendation for Buddhists to recognize and comprehend the authentic principles of their faith in order to safeguard its essence amidst the currents of social change.

Ti Bo Ko : Water Heritage and Local Wisdom in Water Resource Management of the Pakakayor Community, Ban Pa Kluai, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province

2026-01-29T12:38:25+07:00

This study aimed to examine patterns of community participation in the management of the muang fai (traditional weir–irrigation) system in Ban Pa Kluai Village, to analyze the role of local wisdom of the Pga K’nyau (Karen) ethnic group in supporting water resource management, and to synthesize guidelines for sustainable water management in highland areas based on community participation and local wisdom.

A mixed-methods research approach was employed using a Sequential Explanatory Design. The quantitative phase involved a sample of 120 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The qualitative phase consisted of in-depth interviews with community leaders, muang fai committee members, local sages, youth representatives, and water users.

The research findings revealed that:

The level of community participation in the management of the muang fai system in Ban Pa Kluai Village was high, particularly in participation in weir repair activities and canal dredging. The role of local wisdom in water management was also found to be at a high level, as was the perception of the sustainability of the muang fai system. Furthermore, correlation analysis indicated that community participation was positively and significantly correlated with the role of local wisdom (r = .68, p < .01) and with perceptions of the sustainability of the muang fai system (r=.72, p<.01).
The guidelines for sustainable water management in highland areas comprised five key components: strengthening community participation, enhancing local wisdom, developing flexible community rules and regulations, promoting the role of younger generations, and strengthening linkages with external support networks. The evaluation of these guidelines by experts indicated that the overall quality was at the highest level, and their congruence with the community context was also at the highest level. These findings reflect that the proposed guidelines are appropriate and practically applicable in highland areas.

The Development of a Curriculum for Enhancing Standard Thai Pronunciation Ability Based on Phonetic Approaches for Ethnic Students

2026-01-16T09:42:56+07:00

This research aimed to 1) develop and validate the quality of a curriculum for enhancing Standard Thai pronunciation abilities based on phonetic approaches for ethnic students, and 2) examine the effects of implementing the curriculum for enhancing Standard Thai pronunciation abilities based on phonetic approaches for ethnic students. This study employed a pre-experimental design using a one-shot case study approach. The sample consisted of 20 Pga K'Nyau ethnic students enrolled in the first semester of the 2025 academic year in the Bachelor of Education program at Lampang Rajabhat University, selected through voluntary sampling. The research instruments included a curriculum and supplementary materials for enhancing Standard Thai pronunciation abilities based on phonetic approaches for ethnic students, and a Standard Thai pronunciation assessment test. Statistical analyses employed percentages, means, and standard deviations.

The findings revealed that

(1) The developed curriculum for enhancing Standard Thai pronunciation abilities based on phonetic approaches for ethnic students comprised six components: background and significance of the curriculum, curriculum objectives, curriculum content structure, teaching and learning activities, media and learning resources, and measurement and evaluation. The appropriateness evaluation of the curriculum, as assessed by five experts, yielded an overall mean score at the highest level, while the appropriateness evaluation of the supplementary materials also achieved the highest level.

(2) The results of implementing the curriculum for enhancing Standard Thai pronunciation abilities based on phonetic approaches for ethnic students, when compared to the 80% criterion, exceeded the threshold with a mean score of 26.40 points, equivalent to 88%.

The key knowledge contribution from this research is a five-step learning process for developing Standard Thai pronunciation: Step 1 - Learning the principles, positions, and organs involved in sound production; Step 2 - Learning phonemes corresponding to the sound-producing organs; Step 3 - Comparing phonemes between the native language and Standard Thai to identify problematic sounds; Step 4 - Practicing pronunciation of problematic sounds in Standard Thai; and Step 5 - Assessing Standard Thai pronunciation based on phonetic approaches.

Curriculum Curriculum Development to Enhance Pre-service Thai Language Teachers’ Learning Management Competencies through Active Learning

2026-01-05T12:13:42+07:00

This study aimed to 1) develop and examine the quality of a curriculum designed to enhance learning management competencies through active learning pedagogy for Thai language pre-service teachers; and 2) investigate the effects of implementing the developed curriculum. The curriculum was implemented with 26 fourth-year Thai language pre-service teachers from the Faculty of Education, Lampang Rajabhat University. Academic Year 2025. The intervention was conducted over a total duration of 16 hours. The main research instruments were: a competency development curriculum for learning management using active learning for pre-service teachers in Thai language education, supplementary materials for the competency development curriculum for learning management using active learning for pre-service teachers in Thai language education, and a learning management competency assessment tool. Data analysis was conducted using mean calculation and percentage.

The findings indicated that:

The overall quality and appropriateness of the curriculum were rated at a very high level, while the supporting instructional materials were also evaluated at a very high.
After the implementation of the curriculum, the pre-service teachers demonstrated learning management competencies at an excellent level overall.

Furthermore, the development of learning management competencies among Thai language student teachers should employ a competency-based curriculum alongside active learning. This involves a process ranging from curriculum design and activity organization to measurement and evaluation, all while taking into account the context of the content, language, culture, and learners. This approach ensures they can apply their knowledge effectively in actual teaching practice.

Creation of a network for the development of youth models Participatory Buddhist volunteerism on Network’s Participation for Sustainable Environment Creating in Phrae Province

2026-01-07T14:41:31+07:00

This research aims to 1) study the creating a participatory network for developing exemplary Buddhist volunteer youth in Phrae province to create a sustainable environment, 2) Establishing a network for developing exemplary youth volunteers in accordance with Buddhist principles, through participatory collaboration with partner networks, to create a sustainable environment in Phrae province and 3) driving the development of this participatory network for developing exemplary Buddhist volunteer youth in Phrae province. This qualitative research employed interviews with key informants including Buddhist practitioners, local politicians, the Phrae Provincial Children and Youth Council or their representatives, community leaders, and members of the public. Research tools included interviews, focus group discussions, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and action research, including academic seminars. Data was analyzed using content analysis, focusing on key issues and breaking them down into sub-issues.

The research Finding

The craeting a participatory network for developing exemplary Buddhist volunteer youth in Phrae province for sustainable environmental development revealed that current Buddhist youth networking processes lack integration rooted in Buddhist principles. Therefore, a process is proposed with temples and Buddhist principles as the central focus, aiming to cultivate mindfulness and volunteerism This emphasizes the selection and training of youth to possess both moral values and management skills, as well as fostering tripartite collaboration (temple-government-community) to expand implementation for sustainable environmental development.
The development of a participatory network for youth volunteerism based on Buddhist principles in Phrae Province should be integrated and rooted in Buddhist teachings, with temples and Buddhist principles as the central elements in cultivating mindfulness and volunteerism. Building a sustainable network requires key mechanisms: collaborative partnerships, flexible resource support for the youth volunteers, and the creative use of technology to enable them to effectively apply Buddhist principles to environmental development.
The development of a participatory network for youth volunteer role models based on Buddhist principles to create a sustainable environment in Phrae Province has revealed that, through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) among seven networks, and through academic seminars for exchanging ideas on using Buddhist principles as a moral foundation, such as waste management and river and canal conservation, a key mechanism is building cooperation among networks and providing continuous resource support to the youth role models.

Public political participation in the election of members of the Phrae Provincial Council

2026-01-07T14:38:11+07:00

This research aims to 1) study the status of public political participation in the election of provincial council members in Wiang Thong Subdistrict, Sung Men District, Phrae Province, 2) analyze public political participation in the election of provincial council members; and 3) develop guidelines for promoting community participation in the provincial council election system. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining document research, quantitative research using questionnaires to collect data from a predetermined sample, qualitative research, and in-depth interviews.

Research findings

This study examines the overall level of public political participation in the Phrae Provincial Council elections. Leveraging this high level of participation, and utilizing technology, easily understandable media, and policy-centric platforms as tools to address patronage systems and information access, the aim is to shift from a patronage-based system to a transparent and sustainable democracy.
Regarding public political participation in provincial council elections, the findings indicate that the problem lies not in the public's unwillingness to participate, but rather in limited access to information and the deeply ingrained culture of patronage. Development strategies should focus on providing communities with easy access to information, creating forums for brainstorming, and utilizing technology for transparent oversight.
To develop guidelines for promoting community participation in the Phrae Provincial Council election system, it was found that, although participation is still trapped by the patronage system, family networks, and legal limitations, it can be driven through a four-dimensional strategy, integrating media by connecting online platforms with public address systems, creating debate spaces, fighting with policies instead of votes; campaigning for honest politics based on Buddhist principles to build moral immunity and elevating citizens to become observers. This aims to shift from focusing on individuals to a truly transparent and sustainable electoral system.

Integrated Buddhism promotes public political participation in community development of local administrative organizations, in Sung Men District, Phrae Province

2026-01-08T08:37:18+07:00

This study aimed to 1) examine the public political participation in community development of local administrative organizations, 2) develop a Buddhist-integrated model, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the model in Integrated Buddhism promotes public political participation in community development of local administrative organizations, in Sung Men District, Phrae Province. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 382 sampled residents, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 25 key informants and focus group discussions involving 15 participants. In addition, an action research process was conducted with 50 community representatives, accompanied by pre- and post-activity evaluations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test analysis, and content analysis.

The findings revealed that

The overall public perception toward political participation and the Buddhist-integrated model was at a high level.
The Buddhist-integrated model, grounded in the principles of Aparihāniyadhamma, effectively enhanced political participation by promoting cooperation, respect for communal rules, equality, and collaborative community resource management, while also transforming community development processes toward meaningful participatory local governance.
The action research evaluation demonstrated that citizens’ participation significantly increased after implementation of the model, indicating its potential to support sustainable community development.