A retired fine arts lecturer at Chiang Mai University has claimed that the ancient Chiang Mai city wall and Chang Phuak Gate, which partially collapsed due to heavy rain last weekend, are not the original wall and gate built over seven centuries ago, but were rebuilt only about 80 years ago.

 

Emeritus Professor Surapol Damrikul said in his Facebook post today (Monday) that it was fortunate that the wall partially collapsed, so people in Chiang Mai would know that this wall and gate were rebuilt and were an eyesore on a historical site.

 

He claimed that the entire ancient city wall and gates were destroyed and all the old bricks sold long ago and that they were eventually rebuilt some 80 years ago by then Chiang Mai mayor Tim Chotna without any historical basis.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/historian-claims-collapsed-chang-phuak-gate-and-wall-in-chiang-mai-were-rebuilt-80-years-ago/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-09-26

 

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52 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 rebuilt only about 80 years ago

Sad story. 

 

Still older than most of us here on AN. 

 

Hope they can rebuild similar 

 

I have seen newer bricks in several of the 'ancient' sites in Thailand.

What's New in his post? There's a sign next to the Thapea gate that tells the story of the walls and when they were rebuilt.

17 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

.......There's a sign next to the Thapea gate that tells the story of the walls and when they were rebuilt.

Yep, and reads as follows:

                                                Chang Phuak Gate

This gate, located on the northern wall of the city, dates back to the year 1296 when

King Mangrai founded Chiang Mai.  The name of the gate was originally Hua Wiang

because, according to traditional belief, the head (hua) of the city (wiang) was located

in this direction. Under King Saen Muang Ma (1385-1401), the White Elephant

(Chang Phuak) Monument was erected outside the gate to the north.  The name of the

gate was thereafter changed to Chang Phuak Gate.  Prior to the coronation, new Kings

ceremoniously entered the city through this gate.  The gate was reconstructed in the

years around 1800 and was completely rebuilt between 1966-1969.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A retired fine arts lecturer at Chiang Mai University has claimed that the ancient Chiang Mai city wall and Chang Phuak Gate, which partially collapsed due to heavy rain last weekend, are not the original wall and gate built over seven centuries ago, but were rebuilt only about 80 years ago.

The original sections built several centuries ago are still standing while the more modern ones collapsed... true Thai building style 

19 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The original sections built several centuries ago are still standing while the more modern ones collapsed... true Thai building style 

As I understand it from various historical texts, all of the walls and gates were pretty much destroyed by the Burmese (and likely destroyed by the many attempts of the Siamese to retake the city during the couple hundred years of occupation by the Burmese) and the walls and gates were rebuilt by the Siamese appointed Lanna King Kawila in and after 1801.  I really doubt that there is anything that we have seen standing would date prior to 1800 (and most of what we've seen was likely built well after 1900).

6 hours ago, CMBob said:

Yep, and reads as follows:

                                                Chang Phuak Gate

This gate, located on the northern wall of the city, dates back to the year 1296 when

King Mangrai founded Chiang Mai.  The name of the gate was originally Hua Wiang

because, according to traditional belief, the head (hua) of the city (wiang) was located

in this direction. Under King Saen Muang Ma (1385-1401), the White Elephant

(Chang Phuak) Monument was erected outside the gate to the north.  The name of the

gate was thereafter changed to Chang Phuak Gate.  Prior to the coronation, new Kings

ceremoniously entered the city through this gate.  The gate was reconstructed in the

years around 1800 and was completely rebuilt between 1966-1969.

I saw a photo of the Chiang Mai gate which was demolished in 1967. It was clearly a defensive installation which required traffic to wind through an S-curve to enter.

One of the original corner forts of Kampangdin is still there located on the South West corner off Mahidol Road.

 John