The Process of Creating An Invented Tradition Through The Loi Krathong Tradition of The Tai Lue People: A Case Study In XiShuangBanNa

Abstract

The research aimed to 1) to study the origin of the Loi Krathong tradition of the Tai Lue people in xishuangbanna, 2) to study the process of creating and the form of invented tradition through the tradition of Loi Krathong of the Tai Lue people in xishuangbanna, and 3) to analyze the dynamics of economics, society, culture, and political ideology through the tradition of Loi Krathong of the Tai Lue people in xishuangbanna. The conceptual frameworks used in this study were the concept of invented tradition, the concept of cultural identity, the concept of symbolic consumption, and the concept of cultural industry. The qualitative research method was used, with a target group of 22 people, Selected by ratio and purposive sampling. Data were collected by in-depth interviews, participatory and non-participatory observations, and focus group discussions, Data were examined using triangulation methods based on location, people and time sources, as well as theoretical aspects. And the research results were presented in a descriptive and analytical manner. The research results found that in the past, there was no direct name for Loi Krathong, but it originated from the various beliefs of the Tai Lue people and was influenced by the lantern-floating culture of the Han people and Southeast Asian cultures. The Loi Krathong tradition of the Tai Lue people in xishuangbanna is therefore a combination of these beliefs, traditions, and cultures. It is a tradition that has been invented in various forms. In the creation process, it was found that there were 5 groups of inventors: event organizers, event consultants, government agencies, local people and tourists. It has been adjusted according to the context of economic and social dynamics in 5 areas: 1) image of the tourist city, 2) being a communication platform for all sectors of society, 3) social recreation, 4) social exchange, and 5) careers and jobs, which affect income generation in the area. It also affects the culture in terms of symbols, content, reproduction and creativity. In terms of political ideology, the Loi Krathong tradition of the Tai Lue people in xishuangbanna is also determined by government policies and China's economic development guidelines.