An analytical study of belief in traditions found in the tai phu khang ethnic group according to principle of Theravada Buddhism

Abstract

This research on “An Analytical Study of Beliefs in Traditions Found in the Tai Ethnic Group, Phou Khang According to Theravada Buddhism” had 3 objectives: 1. to study the background of Tai Phou Khang. ethnic groups,  2. to study the beliefs in traditions of Tai Phou Khang ethnic groups and     3. to study and analyze the beliefs in traditions appeared in Tai Phou Khang ethnic groups according to Theravada Buddhism. The sampling groups were groups of leader in Buddhism, groups of local leaders and local people having the lineage of Tai Phou Khang. This research was a qualitative research done on field by collecting data and doing the In-depth Interviews.

               The results revealed as the following:

1. The word “Tai” in Laotian language is a normal word meant to a person/human. For Thai language, “Tai” has various meanings. In this research, the word “Tai” means groups of people or ethnic groups. Therefore, the word “Tai Phou Khang” means groups of people or ethnic groups who had their old settlement in Phou Khang which was an important city located at the left of Mekong River according to their belief in the past. But, nowadays, there are some academic people have shown some evidences that such city has been the one located in Phitsanulok as an important district. For the Tai Phou Khang ethnic groups living in Khamphangphet province which were the target groups of this research, some evidences disclosed that they were Thai of Laotian race who evacuated from Ban Khongmo, Khongmo Sub-District, Tubthan District, Uthaithani province and some from Ban khodjok, Khodjok Sub-District, Nong Ma-mong District, Chainat province. They had Laos Weing accents when speaking.


2. Tai Phou Khang ethnic, it found that group’s ways of life were in agricultural society according to natural environments. They believed that happiness and prosperity would happen to their families and countries through creating ceremonies, paying respect and worship all holy things and participating in making merits according to Buddhist traditions as well which every month of each year they would handle local traditional ceremony regularly called "Hit sib-song khong sib-si" to be the guidelines to perform among the guardians and subordinator’s, monks and people in general for the peace of the countries. Anyone who could follow these performances strictly, they would be persons behaving in Sila and appreciated by other people.


3. Tai Phou Khang ethnic groups had brought the faith in Buddhism and made merits blending together with the belief in ancestors' ghost called "Hit sib-song" making merits for good sake in each month for 12 months by inviting the monks to join several ceremonies and doing the prayers for their prosperity and used rational principle of the faith in Lord Buddha to trust in their mind which led to the wisdom to create the ceremonies according to their belief without ignorance. The belief in traditions of Tai Phou Khang ethnic groups then so having the character of having the principle of behavior called "ethics" more than being the presentation of Dhamma principles which were the truth by dividing into 2 aspects: 1) Buddhist ethics of the society which was the teaching norm for everyone in the society to perform together such as 5 Silas, making merits for all 12 months and paying respect to persons who were older and being benefactors which showing of being  polite persons who  obeyed older ones and kept their traditional patterns of Tai Phou Khang groups to perform with their continuity, and 2) Buddhist ethics of the individual which was the teaching for persons who had different social status according to their responsibilities such as husbands, wives and so on.