Ban Bu Community
Ban Bu Community (Thai: ชุมชนบ้านบุ; or simply Ban Bu) is a traditional community in the Siri Rat Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok's Thonburi side. It is regarded as the last source of bronzework handicraft makers in Bangkok and has become a cultural tourism destination.
The word "Bu" refers to the method by which copper and tin are alloyed into objects, mostly bowls, and polished with stone to obtain a smooth, shiny surface, with the word "Ban" meaning house, home, village, or hamlet. Only one household remains engaged in metalwork at present.[1]
The community is located on the canal Khlong Bangkok Noi. It is believed to have derived from a group of craftspeople from Ayutthaya Kingdom who resettled in the area following the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.
History
In the early Rattanakosin period, when King Rama I established Rattanakosin (or Bangkok in present) as the capital, he wanted the city to be as similar as possible to Ayutthaya Kingdom, to strengthen the spirit and willpower of the people. As for the people themselves, they got together in groups and communities to carry out the professions that they were accomplished at doing.
They denominated their communities identically to that which they were in Ayutthaya Kingdom. For example in "Ban Dok Mai" (บ้านดอกไม้), the community made firecrackers, in "Ban Chang Lo" (บ้านช่างหล่อ), the community moulded the Buddha statues, and in "Ban Khamin" (บ้านขมิ้น), the community made turmeric powder.
Culture
Only a few communities remain who carry out the same professions as before - one of them is the community that makes "Khan Long Hin" (ขันลงหิน; lit: stone-finished bowl). This community is residing around Wat Suwannaram, southward of Khlong Bangkok Noi, and they are known as Ban Bu Community.
A stone-finished bowl was a popular utensil used in Thailand; some houses used it for containing water, as the water would become cool and refreshing. The other use was to hold rice to be given as alms to the monks, but presently, since the process of making this utensil is labour intensive and complicated, a stone-finished bowl has become a high priced item and is actually now used as a decorative item.[2][3][1]
See also
- Ban Bat
References
- v
- t
- e
Cultural performances
- Ban Bu Community
- Bangkok Aquarium
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
- Bangkok Folk Museum
- Bangkok National Museum
- Bank of Thailand Museum
- Ban Mo Wan
- ChangChui Creative Park
- Coin Museum
- Jim Thompson House
- Khlong Bang Luang Artist House
- King Prajadhipok Museum
- Lhong 1919
- Madame Tussauds Bangkok
- M.R. Kukrit's House
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum Siam
- Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins
- Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
- Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre
- Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World
- Siam Commercial Bank, Talat Noi Branch
- Silpa Bhirasri National Museum
- Siriraj Medical Museum
- So Heng Tai Mansion
- Thailand Cultural Centre
- National Gallery
- National Museum of Royal Barges
- Asiatique
- Central Embassy
- CentralWorld
- Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Emporium
- EmQuartier
- Gaysorn Village
- Iconsiam
- Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market
- Khlong Toei Market
- Kwan Riam Floating Market
- MBK Center
- Pak Khlong Talat Market (Flower Market)
- Pantip Plaza
- Patpong Night Market
- Pratunam Market (Clothing Market)
- River City Shopping Complex
- Sampheng
- Samyan Mitrtown
- Saphan Han (Toys and Ladies Market)
- Siam Center
- Siam Discovery
- Siam Paragon
- Siam Square
- Soi Lalai Sap
- Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadaphisek
- Talat Nang Loeng
- Talat Phlu
- Talat Rotfai
- Taling Chan Floating Market
- Terminal 21
- Tha Din Daeng
- Thonburi Market (Sanam Luang II)
- Trok Mo Market
- Wang Lang Market
- Yodpiman River Walk
and transport facilities
- Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong)
- Bhumibol Bridge (Mega Bridge)
- BTS Skytrain
- Captain Bush Lane
- Chaloem La 56 Bridge (Elephant's Heads Bridge)
- Charoen Krung Road
- Dinso Road
- Don Mueang Airport
- Khaosan Road
- Krungthep Bridge
- Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal
- Krung Thon Bridge (Sang Hi Bridge)
- Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge
- Memorial Bridge (Phut Bridge)
- MRT
- Odeon Circle
- Patpong
- Rama VIII Bridge
- Ram Buttri Road
- Ratchadamnoen Avenue
- Royal Plaza
- Utthayan Road (Axis Road)
neighbourhoods
- Ban Khrua
- Ban Lao
- Bang Lamphu
- Yaowarat (Chinatown)
- Dusit
- Hua Takhe
- Kudi Chin
- Nana (Little Arabia)
- Phahurat (Little India)
- Pratunam
- Rattanakosin Island (Old Town Zone)
- Royal City Avenue (RCA)
- Sam Phraeng
- Silom
- Soi Cowboy
- Talat Noi
- Tha Chang
- Tha Phra Chan (Amulet Market)
- Tha Tian
- Thonburi
- Thong Lo
- Wang Burapha
Memorials
architectural buildings
- Baiyoke Tower II
- Bangkok City Library
- Customs House
- Drum Tower and Clock Tower
- Fortifications of Bangkok
- General Post Office
- King Power MahaNakhon
- Ministry of Defence headquarters
13°45′44.4″N 100°28′44.2″E / 13.762333°N 100.478944°E / 13.762333; 100.478944