"วัฒนธรรมจีนแต้จิ๋ว" ตัวแทนวัฒนธรรมจีนในสังคมไทย

Abstract

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, music and arts, as well as social norms, values and behaviors. These form the identity for a particular ethnic group. People who share the same social identity is considered a distinctive group from others. A group of people is classified as a distinctive group provided they share the same cultures. Even when they moved away from their motherland, they are still considered a part of that ethnic group as long as they preserve their root cultures.

Teochew is a subculture of the Chinese culture that has a specific characteristics. It has a long history and development. Teochew Chinese group is the most populated Oversea Chinese people in Thailand. That makes Teochew cultures so prominent that it was regarded as a representation of the Chinese culture by average Thai people. That results in a mix of Thai and Teochew cultures that brought about the new local cultures in Thailand.

This article explains causes and factors that led Chinese people to migrate from their homeland.  We also investigate different aspects of Oversea Teochew culture such as social values, traditions, beliefs and ceremonies in their lives. We discuss adoptions and adaptations between Teochew culture and local Thai culture, the mainstream Teochew culture in Thailand and some Teochew traditions still preserved among ethnic Teochew-Thai people.