A study of the way of life of Thaiyoy related to Buddhism in Akat Umnuoy District, Sakonnakhon Province

Abstract

         The purposes of this research were: 1) to study the background of Thaiyoy ethnic groups in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon province; 2) to study the way of life of Thaiyoy folks related to Buddhsim in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon province; 3) to analyze the way of life of Thaiyoy folks in Akat Umnouy district, Sakonnakhon province towards Buddhism. This research was the qualitative research conducted by collecting the data from the interview and documents. The key informants were the Buddhist monks and the Akat folks in Akat Umnouy district. The data were analyzed by using the descriptive analysis.

        The results of the research are found that

1) Thaiyoy folks are the ethnic groups who have the long chronicle of migration from Homtoaw village, the Laos country to be located in Moung Rimyam village in 2390 B.E. In the period of King Rama 2. At the present, this village is in Akat Umnouy district and some migrated to the west of Akat Umnouy district and entered to live in Vanonnivas district. At the present, the Thaiyoy folks are located in the territory of Akat Umnouy district and Vanonnivas.

         2) Thaiyoy folks are one tribe who migrate from the left bank of Khong River. The Thaiyoy folks’ beliefs were transmitted from Buddhism and Brahmanism including other religions such as the ghost religion (worship cults-spiritualism) and in the same time, the religious rituals and fatalism used to be worshiped such as to take vows etc. Thaiyoy folks nourish Buddhism in order to develop 4 aspects, that is, 1) the aspect of the religious teaching 2) the aspect of the religious personnel, 3) the religious materials and 4) the aspect of the religious rituals.

         3) It was found that in the present, the modern society has been widespread into the village, it makes the early tradition begins to be vanished. The Thaiyoy folks’ tradition in Akat village is still maintained as practices such as the birth tradition by binding the alms etc. These Thaiyoy folks believe in Buddhism. It plays an influence role on the lifestyles and makes change in living to combine with the way of cultures.