An Adaptation of Culture and Beliefs in Isan Society

Abstract

This research was a part of the research entitled Isan Buddhism: Adaptation amid Diversity of Beliefs in the Contexts of Isan Society.  Its purpose was to study the cultural adaptation amid diversity of beliefs in Isan society.  Research data were collected from 4 provinces in Northeastern Thailand.  Research tools consisting of an interview form and an observation form were used to collect data from 36 target group persons.  The research data were analyzed and presented by descriptive analysis. The research results revealed that Isan society had five worldviews of beliefs, namely, the belief in spirits or animism, Brahmanism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.  Amidst these five beliefs, Isan people had adapted themselves by using the animism belief as a tool for creating the insurance on agricultural security and various welfares in life.  When Brahmanism had spread to this region, Isan people perceived it as a religion of the elite class, but had adapted this belief into the belief of spirits, in order to confirm and assure the existence of spirits called “Kwan”. Nonetheless, when Buddhism, which is highly flexible, had spread to this region, Isan people accepted it and mixed it with local beliefs to become Buddhism for local people that integrated both animism and Brahmanism.  Later, when Christianity had been introduced under a nation-state mechanism, religious violence had occurred as a result. Notwithstanding, Isan local cultures had adapted well by adhering to the kinship system which was the cultural foundation for holding together the relationship of coexistence in the society.  When Islam, which has highly unique identity, had spread to this region, the Isan people who were flexible had accepted Muslims as a group of people who came to fulfill the Isan food culture of beef consumption.  Such condition enabled Isan people to adapt themselves to coexist well with various groups of people with beliefs and cultural diversity.