Cultural Identity of Ethnic Group in TAI LUE’S Ritual of Life, PHAYAO Province

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze Tai Lue’s cultural identity existing in ritual of life performed by Tai Lue’s ethnic group in Phayao Province. Folklore methods were employed using naturalism of cultural folklore research methods. The researchers divided the ritual experts into two groups. The first group was the informants providing ritual of life information in which the researcher conducted the interview and observation as a participant during the procession. Then, discussion group was held by the second group of experts in order to analyze the cultural identity of Tai Lue ethnic group appeared in the ritual. This was followed by an analysis and synthesis of the data in order to identify the cultural identity. The results of descriptive analysis reveal that Tai Lue’s ritual of life in Phayao demonstrated the identity of Tai Lue people, namely, ritual concept, beliefs, form and regulation of ritual, language as well as specific symbol illustrated Tai Lue ethnic group. Moreover, the analysis of ritual of life’s identity based on three dimensions of folklore showed that the ritual was the process of building relationship between Tai Lue people and supreme power of abstraction through the master of the ceremony, literary content, and the ritual equipment.