A STUDY OF THE PROCESS OF INHERITING BUDDHIST CULTURE OF YONG PEOPLE IN MAE JAN DISTRICT, CHIANG RAI PROVINCE

Abstract

The study entitled "A Study of the Process of Inheriting Buddhist Culture of Yong People in Mae Jan District, Chiangrai province" aimed to (1) study the Tai Yong's background and way of life in Chiangrai, to (2) investigate the process of inheriting Buddhist cultural way of life, and to (3) analyze Buddhist cultural way and Yong's social network. This is a qualitative research conducted in community-based- research. Findings revealed the migration of the Yong to Chiangrai began in the reign of King Rama III. The city of Chiang Rai was revived to support Chiangmai from Burmese invasion. The immigrants to Chiangrai scattered in four districts. A large number of Yong population is found in Mae Chan district. The process of inheriting the Buddhist culture of the Yong people in Chiangrai from the past to present has been inherited through hereditary traditions and culture from the ancestors to generations. Yong's cultural way of life related to Buddhism has played an important role in structuring the strong social network of the Yong people from past to present.