Publications
Local and universal principles of cultural heritage at Candi Borobudur and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
A comparative analysis of Candi Borobudur and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan reveals distinct yet interconnected cultural heritage preservation principles. While both temples share Buddhist origins, their architectural forms—Borobudur's mandala-based structure influenced by Javanese cosmology and Indian philosophy, versus Thailand’s regional interpretations of Buddhist symbolism in Wat Phra Mahathat—reflect unique local adaptations shaped by acculturation and foreign influences. The study highlights how these differences challenge preservation efforts while underscoring their shared histories. By examining site plans, stupas, structural layouts, and Buddha statues' mudrā representations, the research offers insights into maintaining religious monuments' historical and cultural identities in Southeast Asia.
Reviving Sacred Metalwork: Co-Production and the Market Failure of Intangible Heritage in Southern Thailand
A groundbreaking study on intangible heritage reveals that endangered craft traditions, particularly sacred Buddhist metalwork tied to Thailand's soon-to-be UNESCO World Heritage Site Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, hold substantial latent demand that markets fail to capture. Through a multi-stakeholder framework and co-production intervention, researchers found 216 donors from across Thailand and abroad contributed over THB 909,999, with 61% coming from outside the local province—far exceeding project support. This suggests co-production can mobilize community resources effectively while reducing public subsidy dependence, offering a promising model for preserving cultural heritage.
The conservation of living cultural heritage toward World Heritage inscription: a case study of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Thailand
A novel pre-nomination readiness assessment framework for living cultural heritage properties reveals Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, as highly prepared for World Heritage inscription. The study, integrating eight key dimensions—living heritage, Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity, integrity, people-centred conservation, governance and management, Historic Urban Landscape, and sustainability—demonstrates the site's strengths in continuous religious use, ritual transmission, contextual authenticity, and community participation, while identifying critical gaps in buffer-zone protection, integrated governance, urban development control, tourism management, intergenerational transmission, and safeguarding of intangible heritage. This approach extends traditional UNESCO-oriented assessments by operationalizing living heritage values before nomination, providing a transferable decision-support framework for similar sites globally.
Values assessment to propose guidelines for promoting perception of the cultural landscape: the Ratchadamnoen Road route to access Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn heritage site, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Ratchadamnoen Road, the primary route to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn in Nakhon Si Thammarat, holds significant cultural landscape value due to its continuous use and deep community ties. However, new infrastructures along this ancient path disrupt the sense of unity and diminish perceptions of historical continuity. Research using field surveys identified four key aspects—aesthetics, history, knowledge, and social perception—to assess the road's value. The study proposes guidelines to preserve its integrity by maintaining good conditions and ensuring consistency in architectural styles for any new buildings.
Enhancing Visitor Experiences at Religious Tourism Sites in Thailand
A study on Thai tourists' experiences at religious tourism sites, including Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, reveals four key dimensions shaping visitor satisfaction: enjoyment, learning, aesthetics, and escape. Enjoyment arises from activities like sightseeing and merit-making festivals, while learning is fostered through historical narratives and hands-on experiences such as meditation. Aesthetic value is tied to architectural beauty, and escape offers mental rejuvenation in serene surroundings. These dimensions highlight the interplay of emotional, spiritual, and cultural elements in creating meaningful experiences. The research used thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 23 Thai tourists at three Buddhist temples in Phitsanulok Province, providing actionable insights for tourism planners to balance visitor engagement with cultural preservation.
Tracing human settlements: analyzing the spatio-temporal distribution of Buddhist temples in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
A prominent center for Buddhist temple development emerged around Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, with significant shifts in temple locations tied to historical periods and environmental factors. Temples were strategically positioned near waterways and trade routes during the Ayutthaya period (1350–1767 CE), while later periods saw a preference for higher elevations due to economic crop cultivation, population growth, and road development. This study reveals how temple distribution reflects human settlement dynamics and landscape interactions over time, using GIS tools like average nearest neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation, and standard deviational ellipse analysis.
Landslide ground model development through integrated geoelectrical and seismic imaging in Thungsong district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Researchers have developed a comprehensive landslide ground model for the Thungsong district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, using integrated geophysical techniques. The study identified clay-rich zones (resistivity < 500 Ωm) in colluvium on steep slopes as critical factors for landslide activation, revealing significant subsurface differences between slip material and bedrock. This model overcomes limitations of remote-sensing data or isolated sampling by combining electrical resistivity tomography with P-wave seismic refraction tomography, providing new insights into the deformation mechanisms of rainfall-induced slope failures in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mechanism of Cooperation between Shadow Puppet Networks and Cultural Entrepreneurs in Raising the Community Economy and Local Awareness of the Cultural Market Area in front of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand
A structured cooperation mechanism between shadow puppet networks and cultural entrepreneurs has been identified as effective in boosting local economies and raising awareness around Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The study reveals that a hierarchical network—comprising master puppeteers, teachers, and youth groups—facilitates knowledge transfer and performance promotion, leading to increased income and cultural preservation. This 'bloodline of the teacher' model ensures uniform development in Southern Thailand's shadow puppet faculties while fostering collaboration with other organizations. The research highlights the potential for such networks to sustain traditions across generations.
Nora Bead Crafting in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand: A Cultural Reproduction for Sustainability
Nora bead crafting in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, serves as a cultural reproduction mechanism that sustains traditional Nora identity and belief systems. This study reveals how crafters adapt Nora beads by innovating colors, shapes, patterns, and materials to meet evolving societal needs while preserving their cultural significance. The research employs qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with local crafters, to analyze the craft's role in production, dissemination, consumption, and reproduction. Findings highlight the bead's dynamic transformation as a response to social and economic changes, positioning it as both an artistic expression and a tool for cultural sustainability.
Repellent effect of local indigenous knowledge-based repellent in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, against Aedes aegypti mosquito
Three locally formulated mosquito repellents derived from indigenous knowledge in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, demonstrated efficacy against Aedes aegypti lasting over two hours. The repellents—citronella spray and ointment from Khun Lang (Muang district) and citronella spray from Ban Ko Sa Child Development Center (Nabon district)—were tested using the WHO human-bait method, showing promise for community-based dengue prevention. This study highlights the potential of integrating traditional practices with scientific validation to strengthen public health interventions in endemic regions.
The participation of community leaders for sustainable tourism development: A case study in Phipun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand
A new framework, the CNHCEA model, emerged from community-led efforts to foster sustainable tourism development in Phipun District, Thailand. This model integrates cultural, natural, and human capital while emphasizing co-practice implementation of sufficiency economy philosophy, network expansion, and analysis of problems and successes. The study highlights how collaborative participation by community leaders, folk scholars, senior citizens, and government officials facilitated a structured learning process, enabling the development and refinement of solutions tailored to local needs. Through qualitative research involving interviews, observations, and participatory evaluations, the framework was iteratively developed, demonstrating its potential for enhancing sustainable tourism competitiveness in similar contexts.
Vernacular Sacred Architectural Heritage Assessment: The Case of Wat Chedi, Southern Thailand
Wat Chedi, a significant but undervalued temple in southern Thailand, has been recognized for its high aesthetic, scientific, educational, and social values through a novel point-based assessment framework. This study introduces criteria that evaluate vernacular sacred architecture while respecting changes over time, aligning with Southeast Asian conservation principles. Applying these criteria to Wat Chedi and the historic Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan revealed that Wat Chedi retains substantial value despite physical and cultural evolution, symbolizing spiritual beliefs. The findings advocate for its registration as intangible cultural heritage and propose adopting this assessment tool nationally to protect similar sites. This research advances methods for evaluating vernacular religious architecture, offering a practical approach to heritage conservation.
Geomorphic Development of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Coastal Plain, Southern Thailand
A study of the Nakhon Si Thammarat coastal plain in southern Thailand reveals distinct phases of barrier development shaped by changing sea conditions. Research using satellite imagery, digital elevation models (DEM), sediment cores, and radiocarbon dating identified four major barriers: Barrier X, formed during the Pleistocene; Barrier I, initiated around 7500 years ago with associated peat formation in its leeward zone; Barrier II, developed further eastward; and Barrier III, the youngest, aligning with the current shoreline. While Barriers X, I, and II extended southward, Barrier III extended northward toward Pak Phanan Bay, indicating a shift in sea conditions around 1500 years ago.
Lexicon in Tradition Kuih Ashura Malay Society Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand: an Ethnolinguistik Study
A study of the Kuih Ashura tradition among the Malay society in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, reveals 12 monomorphemic and 9 polymorphemic lexical forms, alongside two cultural forms tied to Islamic New Year celebrations. These forms encapsulate ideas, values, norms, provisions, and communal activities, illustrating the deep interplay between language and culture in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The research employed qualitative descriptive methods, including note-taking and listening techniques during tradition enactments, to analyze ethnolinguistic relationships. This approach highlights how linguistic structures reflect and sustain cultural practices, offering insights into the preservation of heritage through language.
Health Risk Assessment of Residents in a Tourist City: A Case Study of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) poses non-cancer health risks for residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat, despite concentrations remaining within ambient air quality standards. A study measuring NO₂ levels at tourist sites in 2018–2019 revealed weekend concentrations were 2–3 times higher than weekdays due to increased vehicular traffic, with anthropogenic activities overriding meteorological influences. Toxicological risk quotients exceeded recommended limits, suggesting sensitive individuals should avoid outdoor weekends. The research recommends sustainable tourism strategies—such as visitor caps and improved public transport—to mitigate traffic-related pollutants in this UNESCO World Heritage-adjacent area.
Strategies Employed by the Locals in in the Process of Nominating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple to be Inscribed on the World Heritage List
The nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple for UNESCO World Heritage List inscription was marked by dynamic interactions and strategic negotiations between the formal (government) sector and informal (community) groups. Despite the government's dominant role due to its power and resources, community strategies aimed at engaging with the nomination committee highlighted a tension between top-down governance and grassroots participation. The study, employing qualitative methods including interviews and document analysis with 43 participants, revealed that while the government led the process, communities actively negotiated their involvement, though ultimate control remained with governmental authorities.
You are here:
World Heritage Explorer > World Heritage Research > World Heritage Sites > Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat