Essence in the Chronicle of Nakhon Si Thammarat

Abstract

This research article aimed to analyze and classify the contents of the chronicles of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Data were collected from the chronicles of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nos. 1-5, originally written versions from the National Library of Thailand. The data were analyzed using content analysis frameworks by Anan Areepong, Udom Nuthong and colleagues, and Chatchapisit Pachanee. The findings revealed that the chronicles of Nakhon Si Thammarat contained seven types of content: 1) politics and government, 2) city building, 3) religion, 4) customs, traditions, and beliefs, 5) kinship relations, 6) wars, and 7) disasters. The analysis indicates that religious content is the most prominent across all the chronicles, with significant references to the Phra Borommathat Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat appearing in four chronicles, except for Chronicle No. 3. Furthermore, the content related to customs, traditions, and beliefs included many sub-categories and is present in all chronicles, with most of the content rooted in Buddhist narratives.