Tai Groups of Thailand Vol 2: Profile of the Existing Groups

109 Pages·2001·6.384 MB·English

by  Joachim Schliesinger

Tai Groups
of Thailand
Volume2
Profile of the Existing Groups
Joachim Schliesinger
White Lotus Press
Contents
Table ..................................................................................... vi
List of Illustrations ............................................................................. vii
Preface ............................................................................................ xv
1. Kaleung ...................................................................................... 1
2. Khorat Thai ................................................................................. 7
3. Lao ............................................................................................ 13
4. Lao Ga ...................................................................................... 21
5. Lao Isan ................................................................................... 26
6. Lao Krang ................................................................................. 35
7. Lao Lorn, Tai Dan, Tai Loei ....................................................... .41
8. Lao Ngaew ................................................................................ 46
9. Lao Song .................................................................................. 51
10. Lao Ti ....................................................................................... 60
11. Lao Wieng ................................................................................ 66
© 2001 by J. Schliesinger. All rights reserved. 12. Lue ........................................................................................... 72
13. Phuan ....................................................................................... 81
White Lotus Co., Ltd. 14. Phu Tai ..................................................................................... 89
G.P.O. Box 1141 15. Seak ......................................................................................... 96
Bangkok 10501 16. Southern Thai ........................................................................... 103
Thailand 17. Tai Bueng ................................................................................ 108
18. Tai Dam ................................................................................... 113
Telephone: [phone] and [phone]-9
19. Tai Gapong ............................................................................. 120
Fax: ( 662) 7 41-6607 and ( 662) 7 41-6287
20. Tai Khoen ................................................................................ 125
E-mail: [email protected]
21. Tai Mao .................................................................................. 130
Website: http://thailine.com/lotus
22. Tai Wang ................................................................................. 135
Printed in Thailand
23. Tai Ya ...................................................................................... 139
ISBN 974-7534-48-7 pbk White Lotus Co., Ltd., Bangkok 24. Tai Yai ...................................................................................... 144
v
25. Tai Yong ................................................................................... 152
26. Tai Yor ...................................................................................... 158
27. Takbai Thai .............................................................................. 165
28. Thai ......................................................................................... 170
29. Yoy .......................................................................................... 178 List of Illustrations
30. Yuan ......................................................................................... 184
Front cover: Tai Dam women, Ban Napanad, Chiang Khan district,
Loei province
Back cover: Thai dancers, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 1 Traditional Kaleung house, Ban Dong Saen Kaew,
Chanuman district, Mukdahan province
Plate 2 Kaleung mother with child, Ban Dong Saen Kaew,
Chanuman district, Mukdahan province
Plate 3 Kaleung man, Ban Dong Saen Kaew, Chanuman district,
Mukdahan province
Table Plate 4 Khorat Thai house, Ban Bung Thap Prang, Chok Chai
district, N akhon Ratchasima province
Plate 5 Elderly Khorat Thai woman in traditional dress, Ban
Bung Thap Prang, Chok Chai district, N akhon Ratchasima
Tai groups of Thailand ................................................................... 193 provmce
Plate 6 Khorat Thai man with traditional shoulder cloth, Ban
Bung Thap Prang, Chok Chai district, Nakhon Ratchasima
provmce
Plate 7 Khorat Thai women weaving bamboo mats, Ban Bung
Thap Prang, Chok Chai district, Nakhon Ratchasima
province
Plate 8 Khorat Thai man making brooms, Chok Chai district,
N akhon Ratchasima province
Plate 9 Khorat Thai woman chewing betel, Chok Chai district,
N akhon Ratchasima province
Plate 10 Lao house, Ban Bobia, Ban Khok district, Uttaradit province
Plate 11 Lao woman, Ban Bobia, Ban Khok district, Uttaradit Plate 29 Lao Ngaew man, Ban Nang Muang, Ban Mi district,
province Lop Buri province
Plate 12 Lao man, Ban Bobia, Ban Khok district, Uttaradit province Plate 30 Lao Ngaew woman weaving at the loom, Ban Nang Muang,
Plate 13 Lao Ga house, Ban Tabluang, Ban Rai district, Uthai Thani Ban Mi district, Lop Buri province
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province Plate 31 Lao Song house, Ban Talad K wai, Cham Bung district,
1.
Plate 14 Lao Ga man with waistcloth, Ban Tabluang, Ban Rai district, Ratchaburi province
Uthai Thani province Plate 32 Lao Song man in traditional dress, Ban Talad Kw ai, Cham
Plate 15 Lao Ga woman with traditional phaa sin, Ban Tabluang, Ban Bung district, Ratchaburi province
Rai district, Uthai Thani province Plate 33 Lao Song girl, Ban Talad Kwai, Cham Bung district,
Plate 16 Lao lsan village, Ban Muanggau, Chanuman district, Ratchaburi province
Mukdahan province Plate 34 Lao Ti ox-cart, Ban Goh, Cham Bung district, Ratchaburi
Plate 17 Lao lsan house, Ban Muanggau, Chanuman district, proVIIlce
Mukdahan province Plate 35 Lao Ti women preparing food, Ban Goh, Cham Bung district,
Plate 18 Older Lao lsan woman, Ban Muanggau, Chanuman district, Ratchaburi province
Mukdahan province Plate 36 Lao Wieng house, Ban Tapklay, Ban Rai district, Uthai Thani
Plate 19 Older Lao lsan man, Ban Muanggau, Chanuman district, province
Mukdahan province Plate 37 Lao Wieng woman in traditional phaa sin, Ban Tapklay, Ban
Plate 20 Lao Isan man with tattooed legs, Ban Songploei, Kamalasai Rai district, Uthai Thani province
district, Kalasin province Plate 38 Lao Wieng man, Ban Tapklay, Ban Rai district, Uthai Thani
Plate 21 Lao lsan girl, Ban Muanggau, Chanuman district, Mukdahan proVIIlce
province Plate 39 Lue houses, Tua Wang Pha district, Nan province
Plate 22 Lao Krang house, Ban Kogmor, Thap Than district, Uthai Plate 40 Lue woman in traditional costume, Tua Wang Pha district, Nan
Thani province province
Plate 23 Lao Krang woman in traditional costume, Ban Kogmor, Thap Plate 41 Lue girl, Tua Wang Pha district, Nan province
Than district, Uthai Thani province Plate 42 Traditional Phuan house, Ban Mi district, Lop Buri province
Plate 24 Lao Krang pillow dyed with krang, Ban Kogmor, Thap Than Plate 43 Modem Phuan house, Ban Mi district, Lop Buri province
district, Uthai Thani province Plate 44 Phuan couple in festive costumes, Ban Mi district, Lop Buri
Plate 25 Lao Lorn village, Lorn Kao district, Phetchabun province province
Plate 26 Lao Lorn woman, Lorn Kao district, Phetchabun province Plate 45 Phuan women going to the temple, Ban Mi district, Lop Buri
Plate 27 Lao Lorn man, Lorn Kao district, Phetchabun province proVIIlce
Plate 28 Lao Ngaew house, Ban Nang Muang, Ban Mi district Plate 46 Phuan women's lunch at the' temple, Ban Mi district, Lop Buri
Lop Buri province proVIIlce
Vlll lX
Plate 47 Phu Tai house, Ban Koghinhae, Re Nu Nakhon district, Plate 63 Tai Dam shaman in traditional dress, Ban Napanad, Khaew
N akhon Phanom province subdistrict, Chiang Khan district, Loei province
Plate 48 Phu Tai couple in traditional costumes, Ban Koghinhae, Re Nu Plate 64 Tai Gapong house, Ban Varit, Waritchaphum district, Sakhon
Nakhon district, Nakhon Phanom province N akhon province
Plate 49 Female Phu Tai sorcerer, Ban Koghinhae, Re Nu Nakhon Plate 65 Tai Gapong man, Ban Varit, Waritchaphum district, Sakhon
district, N akhon Phanom province N akhon province
Plate 50 Seak house, Ban Adsamart, Muang district, Nakhon Phanom Plate 66 Tai Gapong woman, Ban Varit, Waritchaphum district, Sakhon
provmce N akhon province
Plate 51 Seak woman preparing betel, Ban Adsamart, Muang district, Plate 67 Tai Khoen house, Ban Ton Haen, San Pa Tong district, Chiang
N akhon Phanom province Mai province
Plate 52 Seak woman in traditional dress, Ban Adsamart, Muang Plate 68 Tai Khoen woman, Ban Ton Haen, San Pa Tong district,
district, Nakhon Phanom province Chiang Mai province
Plate 53 Southern Thai (Muslim) village at Ko Panyi, Phangnga Plate 69 100-years old Tai Khoen woman with gub, Ban Ton Haen,
provmce San Pa Tong district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 54 Southern Thai (Muslim) man, Ban Laem Sak, Ao Luk district, Plate 70 Tai Mao woman in traditional dress, Ban Mai Mok Cham,
Phangnga province Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 55 Southern Thai (Muslim) woman, Ban Laem Sak, Ao Luk Plate 71 Tai Mao man in traditional dress with tattooed belly, Ban Mai
district, Phangnga province Mok Cham, Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 56 Tai Bueng house, Ban Klok Salung, Phatthana Nikhom district, Plate 72 Older Tai Mao woman, Ban Mai Mok Cham, Mae Ai district,
Lop Buri province Chiang Mai province
Plate 57 Tai Bueng house interior, Ban Klok Salung, Phatthana Nikhom Plate 73 Tai Mao woman weaving at the loom, Ban Mai Mok Cham,
district, Lop Buri province Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 58 Tai Bueng woman at the spinning wheel and spindle, Ban Klok Plate 74 Tai Wang house, Ban Muan Kai, Phanna Nikhom district,
Salung, Phatthana Nikhom district, Lop Buri province Sakhon Nakhon province
Plate 59 Tai Bueng woman at the loom, Ban Klok Salung, Phatthana Plate 75 Tai Wang girl, Ban Muan Kai, Phanna Nikhom district,
Nikhom district, Lop Buri province Sakhon Nakhon province
Plate 60 Tai Bueng woman in traditional dress, Ban Klok Salung, Plate 76 Tai Wang woman, Ban Muan Kai, Phanna Nikhom
Phatthana Nikhom district, Lop Buri province district, Sakhon Nakhon province
Plate 61 Traditional Tai Dam house, Ban N apanad, Khaew subdistrict, Plate 77 Tai Ya church, Ban Nam Bor Khaw, Huay Kwai subdistrict,
Chiang Khan district, Loei province Mai Sai district, Chiang Rai province
Plate 62 Tai Dam women in traditional costumes, Ban Napanad, Khaew Plate 78 Tai Ya woman weaving bamboo mats, Ban Nam Bor Khaw,
subdistrict, Chiang Khan district, Loei province Huay Kwai subdistrict, Mai Sai district, Chiang Rai province
x
XI
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Plate 79 Tai Ya girls in traditional dress, Ban Nam Bar Khaw, Huay Plate 97 Traditional Thai house, Siam Society, Asoke, Bangkok
Kwai subdistrict, Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province Metropolis
Plate 80 Tai Yai rice fields, Muang district, Mae Hong Son province Plate 98 Bangkok-modernity and tradition, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 81 Tai Yai peasant, Muang district, Mae Hong Son province
Plate 99 Wat Arun, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 82 Tai Yai man, Muang district, Mae Hong Son province
Plate 100 Thai girl praying, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 83 Tai Yai house, Muang district, Mae Hong Son province
Plate 101 Buddhist monks, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 84 Tai Yai woman, Muang district, Mae Hong Son province
Plate 102 Thai man beating the drum, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 85 Tai Yai woman in traditional costume from Ban Ngaen in Plate 103 Thai woman rowing along a klong, Bangkok Metropolis
Kengtung area of Shan State in Burma, Ban Mai Mok Cham, Plate 104 Thai women laundering in a klong, Bangkok Metropolis
Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 105 Thai dance group, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 86 Tai Yong woman in traditional costume, Ban Nang Ngaeng,
Plate 106 Thai dancers, Bangkok Metropolis
Pa Sang district, Lamphun province
Plate 107 Thai dancer's headdress, Bangkok Metropolis
Plate 87 Tai Yong wat, Ban Vieng Yong, Muang district, Lamphun
Plate 108 Yoy house, Ban Akat, Akut Amnuai district, Sakhon
province
Nakhon province
Plate 88 Ancient Tai Yong spirit shrine, Ban Vieng Yong, Muang district,
Plate 109 Yoy woman, Ban Akat, Akut Amnuai district, Sakhon
Lamphun province
N akhon province
Plate 89 Tai Yor house, Ban Nongwaeng, Song Dao district, Sakhon
Plate 110 Yoy man weaving bamboo mats, Ban Akat, Akut Amnuai
N akhon province
district, Sakhon Nakhon province
Plate 90 Tai Yor woman, Ban Nongwaeng, Song Dao district, Sakhon
Plate 111 Yuan house, Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai province
Nakhon province
Plate 112 Yuan women smoking, Mae Rim district, Chiang Mai
Plate 91 Tai Yor hunter, Ban Nongwaeng, Song Dao district, Sakhon
province
Nakhon province
Plate 113 Pretty Yuan girls, Muang district, Chiang Mai province
Plate 92 Tak Bai Thai woman, Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province
Plate 93 Tak Bai Thai baby, Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province (All photographs taken by the author)
Plate 94 Tak Bai Thai woman producing rubber, Tak Bai district,
Narathiwat province
Plate 95 Modern Thai architecture, Rama I Road, Bangkok
Metropolis
Plate 96 The famous Bangkok traffic yam, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
Metropolis
Xll Xlll
Preface
Having already visited the officially classified Tai and Kadai peoples of
Vietnam and described them within a broader framework (see Joachim
Schliesinger, Hill Tribes ofV ietnam (2 Vols., White Lotus Co. Ltd. Bangkok,
1997 and 1998), the author's curiosity was aroused to investigate the various
Tai groups and other ethnic groups in Thailand. First it was planned to
include the Tai groups as a sideline with the non-Tai groups. However, it
soon became evident that the historic background of the numerous Tai
groups could not be described solely from their presence inside the country,
but had to be examined in a much more profound and complex way, in the
context of their past, and in a proper setting within the great Tai race. For
that reason, those peoples in Thailand belonging to non-Tai-speaking groups
are published in a separate book (see Joachim Schliesinger, Ethnic Groups
ofT hailand: Non-Tai-Speaking Peoples, White Lotus Co. Ltd., Bangkok,
2000).
The complexity of Tai ethnicity, especially its history and the distinct
development of almost every Tai group and their inter-relationships, de
spite being distributed over a vast area-from India in the west, through
mainland Southeast Asia, to southeastern China in the east - required a
deep, broad and detailed approach.
Accepting the challenge of such a task and trying to avoid missing a
historical or ethnic link, the content and nature of Tai ethnicity led the au
thor way past the borders of Thailand, delving into humankind's prehistory
in the region. The deeper the author pursued the details of being Tai, the
more difficult it became not to lose sight oft he overall picture, representing
the linkages of existing Tai groups in Thailand in the context of the wider
Tai background in Asia. The outcome of this intensive four years research,
from July 1996 to June 2000, is now presented in two volumes.
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xv
The first volume, Tai Groups of Thailand - Introduction and Over
view, describes the early events of today's territory of Thailand before the
coming of the Tai and the history after their arrival, informs about the
hypothesis of the origin of the Tai race; shows the development of the
ethnic Tai people in the context of the various Tai groups and their king
doms, states and principalities in Asia in general and in Thailand in particu
lar. Linguistic development and classification of the Tai language, its
branches and dialects is explained, as well as the description of the central
Thai language. Finally, Tai agriculture and food, Tai handicrafts, Tai archi
tecture and Tai religion are highlighted with 163 additional illustrations. An W::m.i'~
extensive bibliography is provided for further reading.
This second volume sketches every one of the thirty Tai groups in Thai
-J
land with its domestic history, costumes and crafts, design of villages and
houses, activities in agriculture and economy, society and spiritual life. This
information is summarized in a table at the end oft he volume. Each volume
Plate 1 Traditional Kaleung house
is published by White Lotus and available separately.
The term "Tai" is used herein to indicate any people belonging to the Tai
language family. The term "Thai" refers to the people of the central region
of Thailand, alternatively also called the central Thai or the Siamese, as '
used in the text. For reasons of convenience, the Tai groups are listed in
alphabetic order.
The author is deeply obliged to all those individuals, past or present, who :
have published books or articles on the subject of Tai ethnicity; each of •
them thus contributed a valuable segment towards understanding the com- 1
plexity of Tai existence. My biggest gratitude, however, goes to Khun
Achara Srisaneh, who also assisted during the fieldwork for this book as
an interpreter.
Joachim Schliesinger
Bangkok
June, 2000
XVI Plate 2 Kaleung mother Plate 3 Kaleung man
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Kaleung
*
Linguistic family: Austro-Thait
*
Language group: Tai-Kadai
*
Language branch: Tai Southwestern
*
Alternative names: Khalong, Kaloeng, Kalerng, Kaleum
*
Population: 8,000 in 1998 (own estimate)
*
Area of habitation: Provinces ofMukdahan (Ban Bak, Don Tan
district, Ban Dong Saen Kaew, Chanuman district), Nakhon Phanom
Plate 44 Phuan couple (Ban Takor and Ban Kamtau, Dongkwang sub-district, Muang
district), Sakhon Nakhon
t Note: Until recently the Kaleung language was classified within the Katuic branch
of the Mon-Khmer language group of the Austro-Asiatic language family To date,
however, some linguists tend to classify the language as a southwestern branch of
the Tai-Kadai language group within the Austro-Thai language family. The reader
is referred to the author's book Ethnic Groups of Thailand: Non-Tai-speaking
peoples, from where the following information about the ethnic Kaleung group is
extracted.
History
Little is known about the origin and history of the Kaleung. Some scholars
regard them as aborigines of central Indochina. Some Kaleung people state
that their original homeland is central Laos near the border of Vietnam and
that their forefathers migrated to Thailand in the early nineteenth century.
They adjusted quickly to Lao Isan culture and gradually gave up their own
language.
1
Plate 46 Phuan women's lunch
Joachim Schliesinger Kaleung
I. As with the language classification of other ethnic groups in the region, blouse, and a few women cover their head with a kerchief. Kaleung men
the Kaleung language passed through a transition. Until recently, their ~ear trousers and shirts, or leave their upper body naked.
language was classified as a Mon-Khmer language, a dialect closely related
Today, the Kaleung are no longer very skilled in handicrafts. Kaleung
,I , to the dialects of the Bru and So groups; hence one might assume a common women do not know how to weave, and buy all their cloth in the local
I,1.1 origin with these peoples, especially with the Bru. Nowadays, scholars
markets. A few Kaleung men still know how to make bamboo baskets for
place their language among the Southwestern Tai branch of the Tai-Kadai
storing rice or to carry agricultural goods from the fields, and a very few
language group. Some elderly members of the Kaleung group in Thailand
men still know the art of making bamboo mats.
still speak their original mother tongue. This language is of Mon-Khmer
origin and definitely not a Tai dialect; they are also not Northern Tai-speakers Houses and villages
(from Thanh Hoa province of Vietnam), such as the Seak. Members of
For generations, the Kaleung have adopted a sedentary lifestyle. Their
this ethnic group were considered for a long time as Mon-Khmer-speakers;
villages are rectangular in design and give an appearance of comfort and a
recent researches prove that they speak a distinct Northern Tai (Thanh !
little wealth, sometimes comprising up to 100 households.
Hoa) dialect.
Traditionally, the Kaleung lived in small houses raised on short poles,
Reverend Father Cadiere, who studied the minority people of Indochina
with bamboo or wooden walls and thatched roofs. The interior consisted of
- probably in the late nineteenth century - indicated that "the Kalong
a single room, where up to three generations had to share the small space.
seem to be identical with the Kha Lo of the eastern slope of the Annamite
The stove and kitchen utensils were placed outside on the verandah, to
cordillera." No written reference to this tribe is found on examining old
which a short ladder led from the ground.
sources about the peoples of the Annam Highlands in Vietnam. The only
similarly named people found in that area are the To Lo, a subgroup of the Today, the Kaleung have adopted the architectural design of Lao Isan
Bahnar. The origin of the Kaleung still remains a mystery. Further studies houses. Most of their houses are raised on wooden poles about 2.5 meters
to reveal the ethnic background of the Kaleung people have to be undertaken above the ground. The walls are built with wooden planks and the roofs
soon, before it becomes too late. are covered with corrugated iron. A ladder or a wooden staircase leads to
Costume and Crafts a large verandah. The interior consists of a spacious living room with a
fireplace, and one or two smaller compartments used as sleeping rooms.
In former times, the Kaleung wore their traditional tribal dresses. The
:.1 Some Kaleung households have an additional outbuilding to store agricultural
women's traditional dress consisted of a dark blue vest, a dark blue sarong
produce.
and a black or white turban. Kaleung men wore a loincloth and a dark blue
vest, or left their upper body naked. Kaleung women pierced their earlobes Agriculture and economy
', !
and decorated them with ivory or pieces of wood. They used to have silver
The Kaleung cultivate rice in inundated fields, using the same techniques
jewelry and necklaces of glass beads. However, none of these traditional
as the Lao Isan. Glutinous rice is their staple food, supplemented by plain
costume items has survived since their arrival in Thailand.
rice. They also grow corn, cassava, sweet potato, beans, cucumber, onions,
In their new habitat, the Kaleung quickly adopted the costume of the Lao
tomato, papayas, bananas, melons, jackfruit and other vegetables and fruits.
Isan peasants in their neighborhood. Kaleung women wear a phaa sin and
Some time ago, the Kaleung grew cotton but nowadays have abandoned
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