Food Ethics in Lanna

Abstract

This research article entitled “Food Ethics in Lanna” is aimed to study 1) the meaning and value of Lanna cuisine 2) to analyze food ethics in Lanna and 3) to explain the changes in value of the Lanna cuisine. The scope of content analysis is limited within the area of ethics in Lanna cuisine through food in daily life and food in religious rituals. Geographically, this study explored the foods in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand and Keng Tung Town in eastern Shan State, Myanmar.

It was found that food ethics is the philosophical study connecting to other studies through foods especially the interrelation between humans and foods in various points of view. According to the analysis, it was found that most of the foods for daily life use seasonal vegetables to cook as well as meat, spices and seasonings respectively. Lanna cuisine was influenced by the food cultures from different ethnicities. Food in religious rituals was developed on the basis of spirit and Khwan which came from the belief in animism. Lanna food for religious rituals that later avoided using meat as ingredients was influenced by Buddhism it came to the Kingdom. The values of Lanna food either in Chiang Mai and Keng Tung have changed through times but still maintain the tradition of mixing the beliefs in spirit and Buddhism together, only specific and strict rules that still in practice. Names of foods remain the same but ingredients used for cooking are adapted for the sake of convenience.