Abstract:
The purposes of this research are shown as follows: 1) to study the history of the
community; 2) to study the establishment of the Na-Nhong temple local museum and local
Ratchaburi weaving center, and factors resulting in the administration of the local museum and
the local Ratchaburi weaving center; and 3) to study the leaders concepts toward designing
and improving the Na-Nhong temple local museum as a learning center for the Thai-Yuan
community, Tambon Don-Rhair ThailandThis study isqualitative research using collected
data from field trips as the primary data; interviews with community leaders and group
discussions
The research results are shown as follows:
1. The Thai-Yuan community in Ratchaburi originated in Yo-Nok Chaing San
during the reign of King Rama I. They moved to live in many places, including Bangkok, Sao
Hai District in Saraburi, and are scattered along the right bank of Mae Klong River in
Ratchaburi.
2. The establishment of the Na-Nhong temple local museum was initiated by the
Buddhist monk Sirikanaporn (Anek Ratanawanno). He believed that Thai culture andtheThai
traditional way of life in the community would probably be ignored and disappear. He
convinced villagers to participate in preservation activities as well as to donate antique things
to be kept in the local museum. In addition, the Ratchaburi local cloth weaving center was
established in B.E. 2536. This center is used for demonstrations of cloth weaving of Sarong
called Pha Sin Teen Jok and it is the place for buying and selling of the communitys products.
3. One of the important factors resulting in the administration of the local museum
is the lack of staff to be responsible for operating and managing all antiques since the monks
are not available to be responsible for looking after the local museum. Antiques in the local
museum are displayed according to the value of each antique instead of chronological events
The antiques exhibition and the description of antiques are not related to each other.
The leaders in the community suggest that the local museums should be improved
as a Thai-Yuan community learning center. All exhibitions could be managed under 10
categories: history of Ratchaburi; history of Thai-Yuan community in Ratchaburi; occupations
of Thai-Yuan community in Tambon Don-Rhair; traditional ways of life for cloth weaving and
handicraft demonstration under the two-story house; antechamber; living room; bedroom;
prayer room; dressing room; kitchen; Thai traditions and culture; and library.
Regarding the development of the Ratchaburi local weaving center it should
include 1) offices 2) meeting rooms3) cloth weaving demonstration 4) exhibits of the
development of Thai-Yuan cloth weaving from past time until present 5) a room for selling
products and 6) a warehouse to keep the products and their materials.
Recommendations for further study include a comparative study of local museums
operated by temples in Ratchaburi. In addition, action researches aimed at communitys
participation should be conducted