“Wat Thian Thawai”: Cultural Landscape and Guidelines for the Development of Local Museums for Community Learning Along the Chao Phraya River Ban Mai Subdistrict, Mueang Pathum Thani District, Pathum Thani Province

Abstract

Wat Thian Tawai and nearby communities in Ban Mai Sub-district, Muang District, Pathum Thani Province, are an important cultural landscape that can be developed into a community learning center along the Chao Phraya River. This research has three objectives: to study the general spatial context, local history, and role of Wat Thian Tawai and nearby areas; and to study the cultural landscape and to propose guidelines for the development of Wat Thian Tawai and nearby areas in Tambon Ban Mai to be a local museum for the learning of communities along the Chao Phraya River, Pathum Thani Province. This research uses a qualitative research method. The study found that Wat Thian Tawai and the community have been long been associated with the Chao Phraya River. Through legends and stories, King U-Thong escaped from disease during his reign. Its location next to the Chao Phraya River presents a cultural landscape of adaptation, control, and human struggle against the natural environment. Therefore, the temple can use that landscape as a local museum for learning about communities along the Chao Phraya River.