Abstract:
This research was of the three objectives, viz. (1) to study the way to develop
policy and mechanism in conservation, promotion, and protection of national wisdom
and Buddhist cultural heritage; (2) to study model and process of conservation,
promotion, and protection of national wisdom and Buddhist cultural heritage in local
community; and (3) to study a pilot project as an academnic centre for cultural heritage
by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) on the process of conservation,
promotion, and protection of national wisdom and Buddhist cultural heritage.
Findings of the research study were as follow:
Cultural heritage is cultural property of the ancestors succeeded to the
generation. As a whole it indicates belief, value, and products begut by human
activities, invention, selection, adaptation, and creation of our ancestors who had
embraced, learned, and accepted and succeeded down to the present. Cultural
heritage covers local wisdom which is the national entity and our pride. However, in
the age of globalization, all this heritage has been affected by current civilization from
the west and other countries. Thus it is necessary to promote and protect with proper
scale.
In the state mission, national policy is promulgated in the Constitution B.E.
2560 as provided in the articles 57 and 65 that the state should promote, protect, and
conserve national cultural heritage. The Constitution is also stated that short-term and
long-term national strategies be set up that the national sub-plans for economnic and
social developrent be amended. In action, engaged mechanism involved is the
Department of Fine Arts with the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Object of Arts
and National Museums, B.E. 2504, amended (Second Edition) B.E. 2535 as law guideline.
With subordinate agencies scattered throughout the country, the Department of Fine
Arts could lounge many programs to promote, protect, and conserve cultural heritage,
especially for ancient monuments, antiques, objects of art as well as ancient
documents. In part of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, which is of its
mission also to conserve cultural heritage, and by its full potentiality along with its
networks, it is possible to work in cooperation with the Department of Fine Arts to set
up cultural information to provide a short course training for Sangha administrators to
conserve cultural heritage, at least to basically care for their ancient monuments within
their temples. One function to be initiated is to organize "Cultural Centre for Ancient
Document Preservation" as a unit of the University.
Keywords : Cultural heritage conservation, Ancient monuments, Antiques, Ancient
documents