Thutsanti, P, et al./ J Health Sci Altern Med (2019) 1(1):8-13 DOI: 10.14456/jhsam.2019.4 Journal of Health Science and Alternative Medicine Original Article Open Access Adaptation to Thai Citizenship: A Case Study of Thai-Chinese Yunnan, Mae Fah Laung District, Chiang Rai, Thailand Phitnaree Thutsanti1, Tawatchai Apidechkul2,3,*, Chadaporn Inta2, Panupong Upala2, Ratipark Tamornpark2 1Bauru of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, THAILAND 2Center of Excellence for the Hill tribe Health Research, Mae Fah Luang University, THAILAND 3School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, THAILAND Received March 17, 2019 ABSTRACT Accepted April 20, 2019 Introduction: Chinese Yunnan migrated into Thailand through Myanmar for Published April 29, 2019 different reasons, and have settled in mountainous areas in northern Thailand especially Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Objective: The *Corresponding author: Tawatchai study aimed to understand the development and adaptation to the new environment Apidechkul, School of Health and obtaining Thai citizenship among the Chinese Yunnan. Methods: A validated Science, Mae Fah Luang University, 333 M.1 Thasud, Muang, question guideline was used for gathering the information and an in-depth interview Chiang Rai, 57100, THAILAND was done with 24 key informants including male and female of different age categories. Results: We found that after passing through the 3rd generation, Chinese e-mail: [email protected] Yunnan have become Thai-Chinese Yunnan completely, integrated aspects of Thai © 2019 School of Health Science, culture, education, politics, trade and enjoy the same rights as Thai people. Currently, Mae Fah Luang University. they feel themselves Thai and pound of to be Thai. However, most of Thai-Chinese All rights reserved. Yunnan still maintain some Chinese identity through local language, local food, traditional and cultural patterns. Conclusions: After passing for years, the Thai- Chinese Yunnan are completely become Thai but still maintain their cultures and some life styles. Keywords Chinese-Yunnan, Adaptation, Citizenship, Culture Introduction belief, motivation, unique geography, and characters of In 2017, Thailand has approximately 66 ethnic populations [4]. There are several ethnic groups million people [1] living in different regions. There are living in this area; Akha, Lahu, Hmong, Yao, Karen, differences is race, religion and culture because different Lisu, and Yunnan Chinese [4, 5]. Most of them migrated ethnic groups existed on their own prior to the formation from south China for different reasons and routes to of Thailand and ever since, more ethnic groups have Thailand. Chinese Yunnan migrated into northern moved and settled in Thailand for several reasons [2, 3]. Thailand due to civil war in China [6-16], and a large These differences have not engendered conflicts in the proportion moved to Thailand for economic and Thai society but rather developed to be the new beautiful agricultural reasons. Thai identity. This really reflects Thai community The main routes of migration were moving nowadays. from south China to northern Myanmar and moving The difference in identity or characteristics or down to northern Thailand [3] Chines Yunnan, Akha, lifestyle according to regions has its own history. These Lahu, and Lisu used this route for their migration. integrated characteristics are presented in terms of Finally, they settled in Mae Fah Laung, Mae Sai, and culture, language and life style. Transportation and trade Mae Suai districts, Chiang Rai province. Another group, are significant tools that stimulate the interaction among Hmong, and Yao, moved down to Thailand through the the members. Interaction exists in other activities such northern part of Laos. as tourism, education, politics and it is the origin of Chinese Yunnan are Chinese who live in south social integration and beauty of Thailand. China, Yunnan province [2]. Social and political The development of identity of northern region conflicts were major causes of migration. These have of Thailand has passed and cumulated through long and been already documented in several sources of various history including social war, immigration, information [17]. Most of the stories regarding the J Health Sci Altern Med 8 Thutsanti, P, et al./ J Health Sci Altern Med (2019) 1(1):8-13 migration are documented in the first and second data collection: village heads were contacted for their generations of the Chinese Yunnan. The first generation approval. Key informants were purposively selected is the Chinese army and the second generation is their from targeted four Chinese Yunnan villages. Five children, some was born in China, some were born in researchers were assigned to interview, two could speak Myanmar, while some were born in Thailand after they Chinese, and one was a Chinese Yunnan. After passing settled in their village. The third generation are the the first round of the interview, 2 participants were children of the second generation, and most of them contacted for second round of interview, and another were born in Thailand. were asked for the third round interview before getting Mae Fah Lung is one of the districts in Chiang saturated information. Rai. Hundred percent of people in Mae Fah Luang are Stages of analysis started from the first round the hill tribe people including Chinese-Yunan. There are of interview by observing participants’ interaction with 4 different sub-districts; Doi Tung, Mae Sa Long Nok, the researcher including their manner, followed by Mae Sa Long Nai, and Therd Thai sub-district. Almost content analysis which was done by five researchers 80,000 Thai populations are living in Mae Fah Laung who had different experiences and educational district, and 40.5% are Chinese Yunnan. This study backgrounds. aimed to understand the adaptability of Thai-Chinese Yunnan in all generations to develop their own identity Results to be Thai citizens completely. The objective was also Several factors presented below, reflect the to understand the culture, economics, education, and ability of Chinese Yunan to adapt to Thai-Chinese lifestyle of Thai-Chinese Yunnan particularly in Mae Yunan among those living in Mae Fah Luang district. Fah Luang district, Chiang Rai province, Thailand. a) Reasons for migration and settling in Thailand Methods There are three waves of migration to Thailand A qualitative method was used to gather the of the Chinese Yunnan. The first wave was forced by the information by in-depth interviews among the key civil war in China. The second wave was the migration informants. Information regarding history, adaptation, of the relative of the people from the first wave. Bad lifestyle, education, trade and economic system, weather and difficulty in trade in China caused the last interaction with other ethnic groups, language and wave then they had personal intension to move into the culture in the process of becoming Thai citizens were new place for settling and farming. collected and interpreted. The ways to maintain their An 80 years old woman said “I was born in own culture of Chinese Yunnan in Thailand were also China, and moved to Myanmar at 18 years old, and at 40 used for interpretation. years old had settled at Therd Thai sub-district, Mae Fah Twenty-four key informants were invited for Luang district, Chiang Rai, Thailand. At the beginning, interview, 12 males, 12 females. Four participants aged we had a small number of households, just a bit more <25 years (two males and two females), 8 participants than 10 families. Currently, many people here, including aged 26−40 years old (four males and four females), 8 other tribes. participants aged 41−60 years old (four males and four females), and 4 participants aged >60 years old (two An old women gave more information; males and two females). All participants were selected “…most people here are the hill tribe Thai from Thai-Chinese Yunnan 4 villages in Mae Fah Luang Yai, Akha, and Chinese-Yunnan”. District, Chiang Rai Province. Eleven-question guideline was developed and Another woman said, used for data collection. The questions were focused on “My original family came from China, but I a history of migration, steps of migration from China to was born in Myanmar. I have both Thai and Myanmar Thailand, trading and economic system, educational ID card. I moved here, Thailand, while I was 19 years system in a village, language and culture while adapting old. I heard that in Thailand, they had a better job and to Thai traditional pattern and religion, transportation, money. These were the reasons for moving to Thailand”. access to health care system, politics and administration system in a village, rights to access public resources and An old women said that, services, and attitude to Thai Royal Institution. “I moved to Thailand because we had a civil Questions had been tested for validation before war in China, I moved from China to Myanmar and then use in the field by having comments on the quality of the moved to Thailand. In China, we had a very difficult content of questions from three external experts. Three living condition during the civil war. We could not find selected participants were asked the questions in the food. It is similar with other children, in any places they pilot phase. could provide food, we went there.” Prior to the interview, participants consented to have the conversations recorded. All recorded tapes The woman further revealed that some families were translated to text before analysis. Tapes were moved to Thailand under the help of Mr. Chan (Mr. destroyed once the translation was completed. Steps of Chan was known as “Khun Sa” (The king of heroin). J Health Sci Altern Med 9 Thutsanti, P, et al./ J Health Sci Altern Med (2019) 1(1):8-13 She said that her husband was in Mr. Chan’s army. Mr. shortly. I feel very happy. However, all my kids, they Chan supported her family a lot and provided the land have Thai ID card.” that is used by her family.