The History of the Lower Northern Ancient Document Study Center

The Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University

🔸The Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (formerly Pibulsongkram Teachers’ College) is considered an important source of historical learning for Phitsanulok and nearby provinces. In the past, the university’s administrators saw the value of various local literary documents and therefore surveyed and collected these documents, most of which appeared in temples in Phitsanulok and nearby provinces, in order to preserve, conserve and prevent the wisdom of the ancients from fading away with time. In 1982, Assistant Professor Supot Phruksawan, the director of the Office of Arts and Culture at that time, led the survey of local documents from Phitsanulok and nearby provinces, which were collected in large quantities, most of which were palm leaves. Black and white Thai books, Khoi books, Western books, recorded in Thai script, Khom script, and some Lanna Dhamma script, recorded in both Thai and Pali languages, which recorded stories about religion, rituals, medicine recipes, laws, and general records. These documents are all at least 60 years old (in the year 1983). The working committee of the Office of Arts and Culture at that time made microfilm copies of some of them and translated some into Thai, such as Nirat Mueang Lom, Phra Malai, Sawatdiraksa, Si Sawatdiwat, etc. After that, these original ancient documents have been kept at the Office of Arts and Culture since then.

🔸In 2014, Assistant Professor Dr. Apilak Kasempolkul from Mahidol University, Thailand came to take care of some of these ancient documents by using the method of preserving ancient documents and making additional registrations from the past, but it was not all completed until 2017. The Office of Arts and Culture, under the leadership of Assistant Professor Dr. Chumphon Semakhan, Director of the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (at that time), had the idea to restore these ancient documents. Therefore, a committee was established to work on transcribing these ancient documents. It was found that these documents all recorded important wisdom of local people in Phitsanulok Province and nearby areas. Therefore, it is very appropriate to study and disseminate knowledge to the public, which will create the greatest benefit according to the intention of the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University.

🔸Ancient documents in the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University that appear in large numbers are medicine textbooks, usually recorded in white Thai books, 40 cm x 15 cm in size, black ink. The main contents are about various medicine recipes used to treat diseases. They usually appear together with various types of abscess examination textbooks, yantra textbooks, folk tales, astrology, etc. Most of them are recorded in Thai, Thai, Khom, and Pali scripts (mantras, yantra). The placement of vowels and consonants is usually not as clear as it is today. Most of these medicine textbooks specify treatment methods for various diseases, such as various types of fever, diarrhea, cancers that occur on the skin (various types of skin diseases), diseases called black fever, sexually transmitted diseases, abnormalities in the male and female reproductive systems (mutakid, tutthakat), etc.

🔸In 2024, Associate Professor Dr. Khwanchanok Naicharun, Director of the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, saw the importance of studying ancient documents. Therefore, she approved the establishment of the “Center for the Study of Ancient Documents of the Lower Northern Region” with the main mission of preserving and disseminating knowledge from ancient documents of the lower northern region (Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phichit) to the public in the form of technology and innovation. Assistant Professor Dr. Phakphon Sangngern (Ph.D. Epigraphy in Thai and Oriental Languages) is the head of the Center for the Study of Ancient Documents of the Lower Northern Region. Currently, in 2024, there are 18 research projects on ancient documents from the Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University.

1. Kanthira Jangtrakul, Kulsorn Wechakul, Aphaphat Thanaboon, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2020). Pharmaceutical literature of Wat Thana, Tambon Phailom, Amphoe Bang Krathum, Phitsanulok Province: An analytical study. In the report of the academic seminar “Thai Language Research Museum, Academic Year 2019”, Department of Thai Language, Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok Province (pp.167-179). Phitsanulok: Department of Thai Language, Naresuan University.
2. Kanpitcha Khankhan, Nittaya Wongrak, Anchaleeporn Petchnoi, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2023). An analytical study of the original documents of Thai traditional medicine texts of Wat Phromphiram, Tambon Phromphiram, Amphoe Phromphiram, Phitsanulok Province. Thai Language and Thai Culture, 9(1), 72-104.
3. Kesinee Kaewnil, Nisit Mekjaeng, Penpicha Phromtaeng, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2020). Pharmaceutical literature of Wat Saramai Daeng, Aranyik Subdistrict, Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok Province: An analytical study. Silpphibul, 2(2), 1-15.
4. Khachiphan Sriphong, Nattakan Nakphrom, Sukanya Phachuenjai, Phimpot Rotyim, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2023). An analytical study of the original Thai traditional medicine textbooks of Wat Krap Puang Nuea, Phrom Phiram Subdistrict, Phrom Phiram District, Phitsanulok Province. Aksara pibul, 4(1), 47-62.
5. Chalita Sonchan, Siriwan Petchramani, Atcharaporn Jai Kaew, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2021). Essence in the medicinal textbook of Wat Santikawat, Phrom Phiram District, Phitsanulok Province. In the Proceedings of the 10th Phayao Research National Academic Conference, Phayao University, 28-29 January 2021 (pp.4020-4034). Phayao University: Phayao.
6. Nattamon Promrot, Nittaya Thongyoi, Patchariya Ueamphuet, Thanasak Chantsadai, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2021). The writing style of plant names in the medicinal textbook of Wat Phraisuwan, Bang Krathum District, Phitsanulok Province. Document from the Office of Arts and Culture. Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, No. พส.ข.0264. Aksarapibul, 2(2), 57-82.
7. Nantrat Yotkhom, Sawitree Kaewket, and Phakkraphon Saengngen. (2021). Essence of the long textbook of Wat Krap Puang Nuea, Phrom Phiram District, Phitsanulok Province. In the Proceedings of the 10th Phayao Research National Academic Conference, Phayao University, 28-29 January 2021 (pp.4035-4048). Phayao: Phayao University.
8. Palita Thongple, Pronpa Tangkaya, Saranrat Todsiang, Sumontha Ponwen, and Phakkraphon Saengngen. (2022). An analytical study of the original documents of the Thai traditional medicine textbook of Wat Chung Nang, Tha Thong Subdistrict, Mueang Phitsanulok District, Phitsanulok Province. Thai Language and Literature, 39(2), 85-132.
9. Pawarit Panyachak, Monthathip Boonkaew, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2021). Essence in the medicinal texts of Wat Saphan Hin, Phrom Phiram District, Phitsanulok Province. In The 10th National Academic Conference of Phayao Research, University of Phayao, 28-29 January 2021 (pp.3645-3657). University of Phayao, Phayao.
10. Manisorn Wangkiri, Mananya Wanyen, Wannapaporn Hokchaona, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2019). Pharmaceutical literature of Wat Nakhon Chum, Muang Kao Subdistrict, Mueang Phichit District, Phichit Province: An analytical study. In Proceedings of the 8th National Academic Conference of Phayao Research, 24-25 January 2019 (pp.2134-2142). Phayao: University of Phayao.
11. Sirikhwan Sutthisan, Thanakorn Jiwsuwan, Wiraphon Champathong, and Phakphon Sangngern. (2019). Pharmaceutical literature of Wat Sunthon Pradit, Bang Rakam Subdistrict, Bang Rakam District, Phitsanulok Province: An analytical study. In Proceedings of the 8th Phayao Research National Academic Conference, 24-25 January 2019 (pp.2147-2161). Phayao: Phayao University.
12. Phakphon Sangngern, and Kangwan Katchima. (2020). Research guidelines for ancient Thai medicinal texts. Humanities and Social Sciences Mahasarakham University, 39(4), 64-81.
13. Phakphon Sangngern. (2021). A comparative study of medicinal recipes in the Wat Mai Phromphiram medicinal texts, Phitsanulok Province, with medicinal recipes in the Royal Thai Medical Textbook. Thai Studies, Thai Studies Institute Thammasat University, 18(2), 169 – 218.
14. Phakphon Sangngern and Uthen Wongstatit. (2022). A recipe for throat-sweeping medicine from the Thai traditional medicine book of Phrom Phiram District, Phitsanulok Province. Thai Studies, Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, 18(1), 29 – 60.
15. Phakphon Sangngern. (2024a). Thai Traditional Medical Texts of Phitsanulok Province :The Study of Manuscripts and Essences. Doctor of Philosophy Epigraphy in Thai and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University.
16. Phakphon Sangngern. (2024b). Research report on an analytical study of a poultice recipe from the Thai traditional medicine book of Phitsanulok Province. Phitsanulok: Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University.
17. Phakphon Sangngern. (2024c). Research report on Analytical study of Thai traditional medicine textbooks from Wat Thana (6), Tambon Phailom, Amphoe Bang Krathum, Phitsanulok Province, Document No. พส.ข.0267. Phitsanulok: Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University.
18. Phakphon Saengngen. (2024). An Analytical study of Antioxidant Aging Drug Remedies from Thai Traditional Medical Texts of Phitsanulok Province. Phitsanulok: Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University.

🔸The Lower Northern Ancient Documents Center, Office of Arts and Culture, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University is an important source of information for studying the wisdom of the people of the Lower Northern region in the past. It is also one of the largest ancient document learning centers in the Lower Northern region. The center is ready to link information with other regional ancient document study networks in the future.