POULSEN Childbirth and Tradition in Northeast Thailand in Northeast POULSEN Childbirth and Tradition About the Author Childbirth and Tradition in Northeast Thailand Forty Years of Development and Cultural Change Anders Poulsen This beautifully illustrated volume offers a rare study of Isan-Thai customs and belief associated with pregnancy and birth and how they have changed over almost half a century. Using a psychological and socio-therapeutic framework, Anders Poulsen discusses the function of various birth rites while giving an unmatched description of all traditions specifically connected to pregnancy and birth. He includes an interesting description of the tradition of confinement by fire (yuu-fai) and documents that it is still widely practiced, contrary to what has been reported. He also puts forward a theory of why some tradi- tions maintain their importance while others fade away. The findings of this study are supported by the transcription in Isan (and translated into English) of the ritual texts that are used in these rites. Anders Poulsen has long worked in the field of child psychology, in which he is well known internationally not ‘The distinctive feature and achievement of Anders Poulsen’s study is that it is longitudinal in scope least as founder-president of the International Association spanning some forty years. … For this reason alone it is unique in the social science ethnographic lit- of School Psychologists. In addition, he worked for two erature pertaining to Thailand, Laos, Burma (and possibly the rest of Southeast Asia). … It is a tour de decades as director of the Danish Psychological Press until force, unmatched by any other account pertaining … first to Northeast Thailand and Laos, and then to his retirement. His many contributions to the field and to Thailand as a whole.’ (Professor Stanley J. Tambiah, Harvard University) Thai studies were recognized by an honorary doctorate in development education from Srinakharinwirote University, ‘Dr Poulsen’s focus on childbirth in this rural area serves as the most in-depth analysis of this topic that conferred by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1982. ever was or will be attempted. … The information in Childbirth and Tradition is in-depth, different from This book derives from the author’s involvement in a what I read previously on life in Thailand, and written in an engaging style. Thus, I found the reading to Unesco-funded project studying social influences on the be fascinating.’ (Dr Thomas Oakland, University of Florida) development of Thai children; here in 1961–62 he worked ‘Anders Poulsen has made a major contribution in bringing his research study … to term. It is a in the village of Baan Phraan Muean in northeast Thai- unique and very valuable research study … As a Thai researcher, I feel appreciative and indebted to An- land. The scope of the study included almost everything ders Poulsen’s research work because his mission successfully provides very rare information on precious in the life of the villagers. However, certain issues like the customs and rites on which family strength has been built.’ (Professor Chancha Suvannathat, formerly rich culture related to pregnancy and childbirth had to be excluded. Director, Behavioral Science Research Institute, Bangkok) Nevertheless, Anders Poulsen found the topic par- ticularly interesting – not only women’s experience of pregnancy and childbirth but also the associated rites and the role these played in the community. Since 1962, he has returned to the village many times on his own – most ISBN-13: 978-87-7694-003-4 recently in 2005 – to continue his study. As a result, in this ISBN-10: 87-7694-003-9 book, he is able to describe the social and cultural changes of almost half a century that have transformed both village life and specifically the area of pregnancy and childbirth. www.niaspress.dk Childbirth and Tradition in Northeast Thailand POULSEN_final_1.indd 1 3/15/07 5:40:14 PM NIAS – Nordic Institute of Asian Studies Monograph Series 67. Asta Olesen: Islam and Politics in Afghanistan 68. Hans Antlöv: Exemplary Centre, Administrative Periphery 69. Arne Kalland: Fishing Villages in Tokugawa Japan 70. Weng Eang Cheong: The Hong Merchants of Canton 71. Christine Dobbin: Asian Entrepreneurial Minorities 72. Eldrid Mageli: Organising Women’s Protest 73. Vibeke Børdahl: The Oral Tradition of Yangzhou Storytelling 74. Cecilia Nathansen Milwertz: Accepting Population Control 75. Sharifah Zaleha Syed Hassan & Sven Cederroth: Managing Marital Disputes in Malaysia 76. Antoon Geels: Subud and the Javanese Mystical Tradition 77. 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Anders Poulsen: Childbirth and Tradition in Northeast Thailand 110. R.A. Cramb: Land and Longhouse POULSEN_final_1.indd 2 3/15/07 5:40:15 PM Childbirth and Tradition in Northeast Thailand Forty Years of Development and Cultural Change By Anders Poulsen Edited by Pernille Askerud Ritual texts translated with a commentary by Supranee Khammuang and Pernille Askerud POULSEN_final_1.indd 3 3/15/07 5:40:15 PM NIAS – Nordic Institute of Asian Studies NIAS Monographs, 109 First published in 2007 by NIAS Press Leifsgade 33, DK–2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark Tel: (+45) 3532 9501 • Fax: (+45) 3532 9549 E–mail: [email protected] • Website: www.niaspress.dk © Anders Poulsen 2007 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Poulsen, Anders Childbirth and tradition in northeast Thailand : forty years of development and cultural change. - (NIAS monographs ; 109) 1. Birth customs - Thailand, Northeastern I. Title 392.1’2’09593 ISBN: 9788776940034 Design and layout by Sirisak Chaiyasook All photographs by the author Printed and bound in Thailand by Digital versions of related materials, including photos and recordings of the chanting of the rituals, have been deposited at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. Interested readers can see further details of the archived materials on the centre’s website www.sac.or.th. POULSEN_final_1.indd 4 3/15/07 5:40:15 PM This book is dedicated to the village of Baan Phraan Muean – a worthy representative of the Isan culture POULSEN_final_1.indd 5 3/15/07 5:40:15 PM Contents Foreword ix Preface xi Editor’s Introduction xiii Part 1: Customs of Pregnancy and Birth – Then and Now 1 Chapter One: Village Life and Economy in Isan 1961–2005 7 Baan Phraan Muean – a Village Community Change and Development Chapter Two: Faith, Belief, and Birth 25 Village Belief Khwan Rites Mae Kamlerd The Spirit World and the Birth Chapter Three: Ritual Practice Surveyed, 1961–2005 55 Everyday Practice of the Pregnancy Rites Development and Changing Customs Chapter Four: Pregnancy and Birth Surveyed, 1961–2005 61 Attitudes to Pregnancy Health and Nutrition – an Evaluation Midwives The Birth of a Child After the Birth Protecting the Mother The Infant in the Kradong Concluding Remarks POULSEN_final_1.indd 6 3/15/07 5:40:16 PM Chapter Five: The Confinement – Yuu Fai 91 Yuu Fai – an Evaluation Chapter Six: The Young Baby 109 Part 2: The Ritual Texts 125 Original Palm-leaf Manuscript of the Suukhwan Maemaan Rite 131 Ritual Texts 136 Suukhwan Maemaan Taengkae Maemaan Taengkae Mae Kamlerd Smaller Rites Traditional Recipes Part 3: Appendices 217 I: Research Process and Methodology II: A Note on the Isan Language III: Principles for the Transcription of Isan Names and Words IV: Glossary V: A Brief Survey of Literature Bibliography 251 Index 263 POULSEN_final_1.indd 7 3/15/07 5:40:17 PM POULSEN_final_1.indd 8 3/15/07 5:40:17 PM Foreword Anders Poulsen’s study of the traditions and beliefs associated with childbirth and pregnancy is a very thought-provoking study, building on the seminal work in the field by Stanley Tambiah. Poulsen’s work is particularly important due to the longitudinal methodology used and the opportunity it gives to observe the changes and continuities in the Isan region of Northeast Thailand in relation to modern development processes. Especially interesting is Poulsen’s observation that there are two distinct and separate traditions, the khwan ceremonies and the mae kamlerd ceremonies, which influence local customs and beliefs related to pregnancy and birth.