Mulasasana Chronicle
The Mulasasana Chronicle (also Munlasasana; Thai : พงศาวดาร มูล ศาสนา ) is an early classical Buddhist record of the history of Buddhism and the kingdom of Lan Na in what is now northern Thailand .
Origin and Tradition
The Mulasasana Chronicle was written in the 15th century and later copied many times, as the palm leaf manuscripts used for this purpose only have a limited shelf life . The monks Buddhañana Chao and Buddhabukama are considered to be the authors.
Connections
The Mulasasana Chronicle is the model for several chronicles from northern Thailand, for example. B. the Jinakalamali Chronicle and the Camadevivamsa Chronicle . It has been divided into two parts, the first part dealing with the path of the Buddha to the introduction of Buddhism in India, while the second part focuses on the local history of Lan Nas.
The Jinakalamali and Camadevivamsa chronicles contain partly similar or even identical legends and information. B. to the origin of mankind, which is said to come from the footprints of animals such as elephants, nose ears, cattle and deer.
Mulasasana as a historical source
The Mulasasana Chronicle deals mainly with the history of the Raman sect in Wat Suan Dok , but other legendary and historical events are also described. Queen Camadevi built camps for about 500 monks who had followed her from Lavo (today: Lop Buri ) to northern Thailand. In addition to housing, she also gave them clothes, food, and medicine. At that time, what is now Lampang (Nakhon Khelang) was founded, and Chamathewi sent her son Phaya Anantayot to rule there. The city was at today's Tambon Wang Nuea and was 1,400 meters long and 600 meters wide.
The city of Hariphunchai (today's Lamphun ) was laid out by the monk Wasuthep with an oval floor plan. In the 11th century the Khmer coming from the southeast threatened the land around Hariphunchai after they had previously taken Lopburi. The chronicle quotes the great King Mengrai as saying: I let Khun Fa live and rule here [in Hariphunchai]. My works are not as important as those of the monks. She and Khun Fa can do the tasks together.