Guide to Northern Thailand And the Ancient Kingdom of Lanna

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The country that we now refer to as Thailand only achieved its present form in the nineteenth century. Before that, there flourished Lanna (meaning "One million rice fields"), a region whose documented history began in the eighth century; in 1931 it was incorporated into Siam and ceased to exist as a political entity, but its cultural influence is far reaching. Superbly illustrated throughout, Michael Freeman's book shows how the Lanna culture remains as distinctive as ever. What the modern-day visitor sees owes its existence to an incredible number of influences, for the people of Lanna included the Tai Yuan, the Tai Lu, the Shan, the Mon and the Siamese. How they settled in the Lanna valleys, and the subsequent development of the region, can be traced in the art and architecture that still survive today. Taking the region valley by valley, the author explains how the principal cities and sites developed, but most important, he provides a fascinating guide to "Thailand's northern kingdom" as it is nowadays-including houses, temples, its art and its people-all accompanied by stunning photography.