SELF-AWARENESS OF Lao by transmitting their own folk LUANG PHRABANG literature— for instance, local legends and 1 hero tales, and rituals. Such ethnic LAONESS IN THAILAND: transmission has been interpreted as an A CASE STUDY OF MYTH important mechanism for ethnic 2 AND RITUAL maintenance. Repeatedly reproduced in a discourse of myth telling in the context of 3 spirit offering rituals, this transmission Bourin Wungkeeree helps the community realize and remember that they are from Luang Phrabang, Abstract Lanxang, which was once a prosperous Buddhist centre in ancient times. This article offers a study of Lao people who migrated from Luang Phrabang to Introduction settle in Thailand, especially at Amphoe Lom Kao and Lom Sak, Phetchabun A legend or a myth is an ancient story that Province and Amphoe Dan Sai, Loei has been passed on over many generations Province. These migrants have maintained in a given culture. As such, it is a vital tool their self-awareness as Luang Phrabang in recording the events, attitudes, and thoughts of the society. Most legends are 1 The Lao identity here means, in the context generally related to supernatural or of the research, the fact that they are aware that mysterious things. They might be variably they are from Lao Luang Phrabang in the interpreted across the course of their Kingdom of Lanxang. The tradition, history. There are several types of legends: ceremonies, beliefs, religions, and languages emphasize their identity and language. In this most notably, the legend of the origin of context, the awareness of being Luang the world and the universe; the ghost Phrabang Lao is part of their identity. legend; the ritual legend; and the local However, as they have lived in Thailand for a legend. Ritual and local legends are long time, they call themselves “Thai people of distinctive in their purposes to show Luang Phrabang ancestry.” cultural origins, to explain local geography and how to build a community, or to 2 This article is a part of a Ph.D. thesis entitled, explain the background of each ritual. “Folk Literature in Luang Phrabang Laotian Thus, legends and myths make it possible Communities and Its Role in Transmitting for people in the community to understand Luang Phrabang Laoness in Thai Social their culture as well as to create mutual Context,” Ph.D. Program in Literature and appreciation of their history. Comparative Literature, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. An earlier version was presented to the International conference Luang Phrabang Laotians have migrated “Thai Language and Literature: Wisdom and into Thailand since the reign of King of Dynamism in the Global Context,” November Thon Buri, who led the military conquest 10–12, 2006, at the Imperial Queen’s Park, of Vientiane, then under King Siriboonsan. Bangkok, Thailand. I would like to thank After his victory, King of Thon Buri Associate Professor Dr. Siraporn Nathalang for appointed two noblemen, Chaophraya her guidance and for inviting me to join this Chakkri and Phraya Phichai, to lead the conference. 3 Luang Phrabang Laotians to the city of Lecturer, Department of Thai, Faculty of Nam Pat, Lom, and Loei. There were Humanities, Chiangmai University. Downloaded from Brill.com10/01/2021 11:39:52PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities 11.1, 2008 subsequent migrations into Thailand beliefs, culture, and their sense of Luang between the reigns of King Rama I and Phrabang Laoness are obviously derived King Rama III, especially during the war from their motherland, the Kingdom of of Chao Anuwong of Vientiane which saw Lanxang Luang Phrabang. This area used the largest single wave of Laotian to be highly prosperous both in terms of migration. Even after resettlement, the society and culture. Therefore, people Luang Phrabang Laotians maintained carried a rosy perception of their happy much of their lifestyle, society, culture, homeland. Away from home in Thailand, and attitude in their new home. and surrounded by different ethnicities including Thai, Lanna, Isan, Hmong, and Two key issues emerge out of a Chinese, the latter two groups having consideration of this history of Lao-Thai moved into Thailand over the past eighty migration. Firstly, why do the Luang years, they try harder to keep their identity Phrabang Laotians in the city of Lom Kao and culture. One of the methods of and Lom Sak (excluding the Vientiane maintaining their culture is to distinguish Laotians in Tambon Ban Tio, Ban Rai, and themselves from other groups. In Ban Wai) in Petchabun Province and in particular, they feel that their culture is the city of Dan Sai in Loei Province still superior to others (the Chinese, Hmong, have a strong sense of Luang Phrabang and Thai Tai4) because they used to be the Lao identity even though they have lived people of the capital city of Laos. This in Thailand for more than two hundred kind of thinking still remains prevalent years? Secondly, how is it that these among the Luang Phrabang Laotians in people continue to pass on the Luang Thailand. This attitude can also be noticed Phrabang Laoness from one generation to in their folklore, especially comic tales. the next? The competing character traits and differences between each culture are the The importance of Luang topics most frequently criticized and Phrabang Laoness in the context pilloried. This is interesting and implies a of Thai society sense of cultural separation. For example, Hmong people migrated to settle down in Lom Kao district and Dan Sai district after In preliminary research for this study, it the communists were defeated. Due to was found that there were two factors cultural and ethnic differences, Hmong driving these people to try to maintain people are often perceived as uncivilized, their identity. The first reason is that dirty, and different. They have a lower Luang Phrabang Laotians in Thailand social status compared to Luang Phrabang retain strong pride in the glorious past of Lao people. This can be seen in a the Kingdom of Lanxang Luang Phrabang. The second reason is the desire to resist the influence of Thai society and to 4 Luang Phrabang Laotians residing in these maintain a sense of cultural distinction. three districts still call Isan people “Thai Tai” Therefore, they try to keep their culture as their ancestors used to do while living in and maintain beliefs and attitudes through Luang Phrabang. In the past, they did not realize that “Thai Tai” was the same as Isan such things as ghost feast rituals or local people. They only identify those living on the legends. The first point offers a good case right side of the Mekong River as Thai Tai or to illustrate the causes of this practice. people living in the South of the Kingdom of Luang Phrabang Laotians’ thoughts, Laos. 92 Downloaded from Brill.com10/01/2021 11:39:52PM via free access Self-awareness of Luang Phrabang Laoness in Thailand humorous tale called “Yak Dai Mia Maeo” the community. The feeling of strong (“Wanting to have a Maeo Wife”) and ethnic difference can still be found in the “Kin Khao Ban Maeo” (“Having a Maeo Luang Phrabang community. Meal”). These stories foreground ethnic and cultural differences as a source of In this way, the pride of being Lao comic effect. In addition, Luang Phrabang descendants of a great and prosperous Lao people have a better social status in royal culture has largely taken root in their every respect. Similarly, Isan Lao people mind. Because of their pride in their who mostly come to be workers in Lom origins, it is not strange for them to Kao and Lom Sak, have been perceived as continue to identify themselves as Luang inferior to Luang Phrabang Lao people. Phrabang Laotians and to use this identity Institutionalized further via the differential to separate from other groups of people. relationship of an employer and an Considered more deeply, even though they employee, the unequal status encourages have moved to Thailand, the sense of criticism and making fun of the culture being Luang Phrabang Laotians still and lifestyle of Isan Lao people. They are remains. They have tried to maintain the perceived to be people who like drinking, culture, thoughts, lifestyle, and customs of arguing, being cheerful and being poor. Luang Phrabang. The pride in Luang On the other hand, the Luang Phrabang Phrabang Laoness can be today seen from Lao people think of themselves as their acting, tone of voice and reaction peaceful, neat, and civilized. This toward people from different groups. This perception can be seen in the humorous clearly shows their feelings of difference tale “Tai Tai Kin Khi Maphrao” (“Thai and separation. Tai eat coconut dregs”). Chinese people, by contrast, generally have high influence The sense of pride and distinction profiled in terms of economics because most of here has not only been found in the Luang them are merchants who buy agricultural Phrabang community in Thailand, but it produce from people in the community can also be found in those currently living and lend money through a black market in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. financial system with high interest rates. People there are also very proud of their They are often perceived as always trying ancient culture and art.5 When UNESCO to take advantage of others. This motivates announced Luang Phrabang’s World compensatory tactics through local Heritage listing, this kind of feeling humorous and sarcastic tales such as “Bak became even more intense. However, Lak Bak Laem” (“The Intelligent people here do not feel separated from Person”), “Bak Siang Jip” (“Story Related others. It is because in the past the city of to Former Monks”), and “Bak Po Khi Luang Phrabang was occupied by people Tua” (“The Lying Po”).