Poi Sang Long: Traditional Way of Life; Sustaining or Adapting

Abstract

Poi Sang Long is a way of Tai’s life. In the past, their way of life was so simple; its tradition was of unique identity and its own speaking language. It was believed that people called ‘Tai’ migrated from Chan state, Union of Myanmar. Their various traditions were basically based on Buddhism which have been long observed; here it was found that there is a kind of merit tradition in every month out of twelve months. The tradition of Poi Sang Long is being regularly held during March to April; such ceremony has been faithfully and importantly regarded as the biggest one by Tai people. At the present, Mae Hong son, where landscape is full of a beautiful nature and unique tradition exceptionally, has been objectively developed to be the tourist destination. Under such excellent development, Tai people’s social life and ways of living need a huge adaptation in accordance with the new flow of culture introduced by newcomers; in the district of Amphoe Maung, Pai, Mae Srariang, there are lots of people who emigrated from various places to the mentioned areas in order to do business and to build guest houses for tourist business. While ceremony of Poi Sang Long taking place many foreigners and outsiders have been taking part, Tai people, therefore, in this ceremony need to adjust themselves to it in order to sustain its form of culture; Tai people should record its details as much as they can then clearly transfer them to new generations for learning and then they would be prepared to correctly preserve and sustain the mentioned culture.