Chiang Mai a la Carte
Chiang Rai: the unique Oub Kham Museum
Nov
Table of Contents
Introducing the Oub Kham Museum
The Oub Kham Museum in Chiang Rai is a unique museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Lanna Kingdom and educating future generations about its history. Specifically the museum houses Buddha images and artifacts of the different Tai groups, such as the Tai Yai (aka Ngiaw or Shan), Tai Lue and others. These groups live in Thailand, China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and India and share a common background. The collection of this private museum is unique and priceless. The owner, Khun Chulasak Suriyachai, who founded the museum in the early 2000s., is now 78 years old.
My second visit to the museum
I recently visited the museum for the second time. I remember that I was not allowed to take photographs when I visited for the first time but that policy has changed fortunately. It makes a difference in promoting this fantastic museum and this museum deserves it. The entrance fee is 300THB per person which many people might think is too expensive. Believe me: it is well worth the money. You will get a private tour of the museum.
The woman, a volunteer and student of the owner, who guided me told me that on some days only two persons visit this museum. You will get a guided tour of the museum, which contains unique exhibits. I was the only visitor during the time I spent in this museum.
The history and culture of the Tai peoples
The Oub Kham Museum is for people who are interested in the history and culture of Chiang Rai, North Thailand and the Tai people. I recommend to do some reading before you visit. You need a bit of knowledge about the history of the north of Thailand and the history of the Tai people, who originally come from China. The Thai people in Thailand descend from the Tai ethnolinguistic group but many Tai groups still identify themselves as specific groups and live in China, Myanmar, Vietnam and India. These groups such as Tai Lue, Tai Yai, Tai Ya and others have their identity, language and customs. This private museum is small but the exhibition rooms are crammed with unique exhibits. A visit will take at least one hour.
A unique Collection
Khun Chulasak Suriyachai is from the Tai Yai ethnic group himself. He has traveled extensively in the region to gather Lanna and Tai valuables, Buddha images, utensils and costumes to exhibit them in a museum. You will find Buddha images from Mandalay, Chiang Tung (aka Keng Tung or Kyaintong in Myanmar), Chiang Rung (Jinghong in Yunnan, China), Chiang Saen and other places. There are fantastic costumes of the Miao, Palong, Tai Ya and other minority groups from China, Myanmar and Thailand.
Authentic Chiang Rai
The Oub Kham Museum is one of those places that has suffered from the popularity of relatively new attractions such as Wat Rong Khun aka the White Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten aka the Blue Temple, Wat Huay Pla Kang and the Black House aka Ban Dam. These are the places that people visit on a day tour of Chiang Rai and overlook places such as the Oub Kham Museum, Rai Mae Fah Luang and Wat Phra Kaew.
The Vision of Khun Chulasak, founder of the Oub Kham Museum
Every visitor of the museum receives a pamphlet with information about the museum and about the theory of Khun Chulasak regaring the Tai people. According to him Tai people once occupied the American continent and other parts of the world. That explains the presence of an image of an American indian in the Museum.
The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) seems to have proposed the museum to the cabinet as a special area for the ancient city of Chiang Saen. I have not been able to verify this yet.
Dr.William Clifton Dodd, researcher of the Tai peoples
The leaflet also mentions American missionary Dr.William Clifton Dodd (1857-1919), the author of the book “The Tai race, Elder Brother of the Chinese”. Dr.Dodd expanded the Presbyterian mission to Chieng Tung (Kengtung or Kyaingtong) in Shan State, Burma, as well as to Chieng Rung in Yunnan, China. In 1897 the Dodd family helped opening a mission station in Chiang Rai and started traveling to Shan State (now Myanmar) and Yunnan, China. He did research and published extensively about the Tai peoples living there and became one of the first ethnologists of the Tai race.
This picture may be taken in Nan in the Lincoln Academy Building or Nan Christian Suksa nowadays before Rev. William Clifton Dodd opened the Chiengrung Station in 1917. On the wall is a map of the proposed areas where missionaries wanted to proclaim Christianity after Dr.Dodd’s survey. The woman is Mrs. Belle Ruth Dodd (nee Eakin). She continued to revise Dr. Dodd ‘s “The Tai Race, Elder Brother of the Chinese” after he passed away and prepare it for print. The other man is Dr. Claude William Mason, the first physician who worked in Chiengrung (then Kiulungkiang Station under the North Siam Mission). Picture and text were provided by Khun Alysa Lertpruks from Payap University in Chiang Mai.
Where is the Oubkham Museum
Below is the location of the Oubkham Museum in Chiang Rai. Entrance fee is 300THB per person but for that you will get a private tour of the museum. The museum is open every day from 0800 until 1730.
