The status and importance of Prasat Yoe community, Phrai Bueng District, Si Sa Ket Province during 1722 – 2018

Abstract

This article examines the status and importance and change of Prasat Yoe community, Phrai Bueng District, Si Sa Ket Province during 1722 - 2018. According to studies, it has been found that Ban Prasat Yoe community has an important basis from being in an ideal geographical area. It is a point of connection to various areas, especially in the southern and northern parts of Sisaket Province, together with the area having a lot of natural resources, allowing people to come to live and travel through all the time since the entry of Ancient Khmer culture which can be seen from the religious place called "Prasat Yoe", including the role of local leaders and the external factors that affect the community.  

In the Ayutthaya period, this community area was the settlement area of ​​the Germans who emigrated from southern Laos in the year 1722 until the Rattanakosin period. Ban Prasat Yoe community was part of the Khmer Pa Dong districts and Si Sa Ket. It was a food source and main strength to expand the influence to Khmer and North Isan too because there were a variety of natural resources. Until 1918, the temple was built in the same area of ​​"Prasat Yoe", which was the "Wat Prasat Yoe Nuea" with Luang Pu Moom Intapanyo (Pra Kru Prasat Khantakhun), the most respected teacher of the Sisaket people staying there. Later on, in 1971, the people of Sisaket province received royal grace from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit,The Queen Mother in the reign of King Rama IX in a visit to the community in Prasat Yoe. With this visit, Ban Prasat Yoe was known more and more to the general public, which increased the role of the importance of the community of Ban Prasat Yoe as a sacred area of ​​Buddhism and the place where the monarchy had visited.

After the visit in 1971, the community of Ban Prasat Yoe remained as important as the transport junction with many roads connecting to the main road No. 24 (Sikiew - Det Udom) and the road connecting to Amphoe Mueang Sisaket, making the community of Ban Prasat Yoe to grow steadily by being raised its position as a village and tourism place according to the government's policy in 2018, affecting the way of people in Ban Prasat Yoe to change from the original. Moreover, Ban Prasat Yoe community is also an example of the combination of Khmer society and culture and the Buddhist culture of the local people as well.