THE CONTEMPORARY PARATEXTS IN TAI YAUN PALM-LEAF MANUSCRIPTS FOUND AT WAT MAI NAKHON BAN, RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aims to examine the characteristics of contemporary intertextuality and cultural hybridity in writing as reflected in the Tai Yuan palm-leaf manuscripts of Wat Mai Nakhon Ban, Ratchaburi Province. The study employs a qualitative research approach, analyzing data from relevant documents on the palm-leaf manuscript culture of the Tai Yuan people and their historical background. The sample consists of instances of contemporary intertextuality found in 275 Tai Yuan palm-leaf manuscripts inscribed in Lanna Dhamma script and the Tai Yuan language. Data collection and analysis are conducted through descriptive content analysis. The findings reveal that contemporary paratexts and cultural integration in these manuscripts manifest in seven key positions: the front cover, introductory script, head of the leaf (left margin), end of the leaf (right margin), main content, binding hole position, and back cover. These paratexts indicate the continuous use of palm-leaf manuscripts within the Tai Yuan community, even as modern writing tools, such as ballpoint pens and graphite pencils, became available. Furthermore, the influence of local Thai communities in Ratchaburi, particularly in the study of Thai and Khmer scripts, has led to a blending of writing traditions. This integration is evident in contemporary paratexts where Lanna Tham script, traditionally used by the Tai Yuan, appears alongside Thai and Khom scripts. Such cultural synthesis demonstrates a dual process: the adoption of external influences and the preservation of Tai Yuan identity. The study highlights the dynamic interaction between tradition and adaptation, illustrating how the Tai Yuan community has incorporated local Thai cultural elements while maintaining its unique linguistic and writing heritage. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of cultural hybridity and the role of paratexts in manuscript traditions, emphasizing how historical texts serve as cultural artifacts that reflect both continuity and change within ethnic communities.