การกินในประเพณีชีวิตที่เกี่ยวการเกิดและการตายในชุมชนไทยพวนแห่งหนึ่ง จังหวัดนครนายก

This thesis entitled Being Phuan in Contemporary Thai Society emphasized the aspeets of self-defining of the Phuan minority in Central Thailand an ethnic group migrating from Northern Laos two centuries ago perceived through the recognition and invention of Phuanness which has varied thoroughly up on different social contexts during the past several decades. It considered the existence of Phuanness in the contexts of the establishment and activities of the Phuan Association (Chomrom Thai-Phuan) the Phuans cultural revivals and the access of employing Phuanness to promote tourism business. There were many complicated aspects involved in the identification of Phuan people in Thailand during globalization period so the following questions were raised for a systematic analysis: (1) How could we understand the historical background and roots of the Phuan and their impacts on Phuan peoples self-identification today? (2) How were the Phuan peoples expression of their recognition and recall through cultural group formation characterized? (3) Under the tourism promotion and local cultural conservation phenomena that counted everything under the Contemporary Thainess umbrella and as a result transformed diversifying cultures into national commodities what were the identities of the Phuan and what were their positions in those phenomena? The analysis was based on both anthropological field data and library documents. The study of Phuans history showed that Phuan peoples self-identification existed in several forms which leaded to a difference in self-perception and self-connection of the Phuan based on sources of information. Nevertheless Phuans historical identities were linked to history of the state. Their historical backgrounds were occasionally selected for repeat to deepen the common understandings of the ethnic Phuans roots. But the Phuan in each area would choose the best set of history that fit them. The gatherings of Phuan people gave them an opportunity to express their common recognition and recall by organizing cultural events. Through these activities the Phuan could define their identities and choose to conserve and support what they have seen importance to them. The Phuan at present perceived their cultural root through the oral history and historiography complied under the Thai nation-state ideology. The variation ofPhuans culture history and cultural invention found among the Phuan groups in different parts ofThailand was explicable in the lights oflocal social contexts as well as ofthe ideal cultural and ethnic variation acceptable under the states political ideology. More recently the Phuanness expression has been sculptured and employed in the manner to promote Thai tourism.