A new translation of the 1894 chronicle by a high-ranking official from the Nan kingdom, a once-powerful principality whose territory encompassed all of what is now northwestern Laos and neighboring portions of China, in addition to the present province of Nan in Thailand. It details the history of the principality, the legendary origins of the Nan River Valley, the rituals and customs of the Nan, the moral duties of the ruler, and royal genealogy. A fascinating portrait of Thai history and culture.

Cover; TABLE OF CONTENTS; PREFACE; ABBREVIATIONS; INTRODUCTION; The Nan Chronicle and its Sources; 1. Main Manuscript (MS.1); 2. Shorter Version (MS.2); 3. Reliquary Chronicles; 4. The ""History of the Founding of Nan; 5. The ""Old Chronicle; 6. The ""Royal Genealogy; 7. The ""History of Nan and Treatise on Medicine; 8. Miscellaneous Manuscripts; The Lineage of the Texts; The Language of the Texts; Editing Procedures; Romanization; Possible Future Directions; ÂRAMBHAKATHÂ; INVOCATION; CHAPTER ONE -- ORIGINS OF THE MÜANG; CHAPTER TWO -- THE THAI KAO RULERS, CA. 1300-1448.

An engaging collection that probes at the existence of an early modern Eurasia

Lan Na is the name of a conglomerate of Thai city-states that covered roughly the area of modern north Thailand between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Lan Na's influence reached far into the neighbouring regions, most under the leadership of the city-state of Chiang Mai. Beginning with the popular legends, this wide-ranging narrative takes us through prehistoric and protohistoric periods, through history, up to the present day. While the writing of Lan Na history is still in its infancy, this brief and highly readable volume is a welcome step towards developing a fuller history of Northern Thailand.