Conservative Approach to the Identity of the Priest Ethnic Shan in MAE HONG SON Province

Abstract

This research has three objectives, (1) to study the social context of the Shan ethnic group and the preservation of ethnic Shan in the province of Mae Hong Son, (2) to study the role of the clergy in the preservation of ethnic Shan in Mae Hong Son province, and (3) to present the way of role of the clergy in the preservation of ethnic Shan in Mae Hong Son province. This research is qualitative research documents with descriptive and in-depth interviews. It was found that the ethnic groups of Shan is the country became the state of nation, the model of the powerful relation has influence to be “Shan” become Thai people, and to affect to the expression of the cultural identity of Shan by Buddhist Influence. This dissertation is about the historical and ethnographic concept; it explained to the origin of “nation-state” is to be “six conscious” :-  descent, race, language, religion, area  and the culture and festival. They are  important condition based on to build the conscious on “nationalism” of the group of ethnic by presenting the three widely dimensions :-  history, religion and  land.   To be Thai people for explain and analyze the way of conservation of identity of  Buddhist Tai Sangha in Mae Hong Son in the six sides : - language, culture, arts, food, clothing, and  the way of life.