IDENTITY OF THAI-CHINESE IN MUEANG DISTRICT, LAMPANG PROVINCE

Abstract

The research aimed to study Thai-Chinese identity in Muang District, Lampang Province, regarding ethnicity, history, traditional and cultural expression, and behavioral expression. Used a qualitative methodology that included studying-documents, interviews, and focus group discussions on studying a sample of experts and Thai-Chinese families. The data were analyzed by content analysis.

           The result was summarized as follows: 1) Cause their migration from China to Muang District, Lampang Province was poverty and escaped the war. 2) Their migration routes were two routes. The first route from Hainan Island, Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province, Other Provinces (such as Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Nakhon Ratchasima), Lampang Province. The Second route from Guangdong and Fujian, Vietnam, Khlong Toei (Bangkok), Lampang Province. 3) Their ethnicity divided into three ethnics were Hainan, Cantonese-Chaozhou, and Hakka. 4) Traditional and cultural expression, namely, constructing shrines, worshiping ancestors, a ritual in respecting and worshiping the Chinese and Buddha deities, changing the cremation ceremony from burial to cremation, usage Thai as the mother tongue, and embellishing Chinese lanterns and characters in various places and signs. (4) Behavioral expression divided into personal expression, namely, cultivating Chinese beliefs, traditions, and cultures for descendants, giving a red envelope to the offspring, gathering relatives on the Chinese New Year, and burning the Chinese offering papers to devote to the dead relatives, and social expression, namely, setting-up the Thai-Chinese foundations, associations, and societies, giving scholarships and participating in activities to help communities and societies with the provincial agencies in return for the merit of the Thai nation