Shop buildings which were in the old area of Chinese merchant community from Bangkok in the time of boat commerce (long tail boat) one hundred years ago. The top of the Chedi of Wat Gate temple could be seen in the distance in 1967.
There is evidence which shows that the Wat Gate community had been living in the area since the later part of Burma ruling (perhaps even earlier). This is because the evidence states that the port at Wat Gate was in use from then till the Rattanakosin period. It has been recorded that, when King Kawila (1774-1782) returned from meeting King Rama I in Bangkok, he disembarked at this Wat Gate port.
This area got busier during the later part of King Rama IIIs reign and the beginning of King Rama IVs. When the trading through waterways between Chiang Mai and Bangkok was prosperous, Wat Gate port became important for all boats from different places which in turn made the area a dwelling place for diverse ethnics merchants. For example, the British established Borneo Company which traded in teak. A religious group built McCormick hospital, Prince Royals College and Dara Academy School. The Chinese opened their business shops like Kuang Aia Shop which belonged to Mr. Sengoak Sae Nim and sold cotton. The wholesale shop owned by Mr. Pae Oui and Chinese shop owned by Mr. Ou who sold goods from Bangkok such as fabric, salted fish and oil. Meanwhile, the natives were farmers who worked in their rice fields. The worshippers at Wat Gate temple mentioned that the back part of Wat Gate used to be a rice field and it stopped being used in 1961. This verifies what Uncle Jack (Mr. Jarin Ben), who is now 80 years old, said that he used to own the land behind the temple and would rent it out to farmers and divide the grain in half when it was harvested. (Rice growing with half and half division of rice grain between the grower and the owner).
The prosperity of Wat Gate area can still be seen, even nowadays, from all the buildings most of which are homes or different ethnic business offices. If one walks into this area, one will find religious sites dedicated to Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikh. There are homes which still maintain their old architectural structure, which is almost 100 years old. These homes were built with good teak, bricks and cement. One of those which was changed into a restaurant is The Gallerie. This building was built by the Chinese. At present, the front of the restaurant is an exhibition for painting and the back is a restaurant.
Realizing the significance of the old area of Wat Gate and in order to preserve their community, Wat Gate people especially Uncle Jack established Wat Gate museum in the Wat Gate temple area. The displayed objects were what people had been handed down from their ancestors from one generation to another. They were lacquerware, crystals, Chinese pottery and other native objects.
However, the interesting things in the Wat Gate area are not only what one sees in the museum. Everything in the community, buildings, culture, traditions, and food all reflect the Wat Gates uniqueness, prosperity and wealth, not only in terms of property but also the local wisdom of the local people.
References
Anu Neunhard, Pol. Lt. Col.. (2000). Sapa Rueang Kao (Miscellaneous stories of Chiang Mai in the past. (in Thai). Chiang Mai: Nopburi Printing.
--------------------------------. (2001). Sang Khom Mueang Chiang Mai Run Sam (Chiang Mai society generation 3). (in Thai).
Chiang Mai: Nopburi Printing.
Chiang Mai University Library
Chiang Mai
ntic@lib.cmu.ac.th
Chiang Mai University. Information Technology Service Center
Chiang Mai
itsc@itsc.cmu.ac.th
Chiang Mai University, Funder
Usanee Thongchai, Advisor and project expert
1967
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