THE WAY OF PLENG BOK MUSICIANS TO CREATE A CULTURAL HERITAGE MAP

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) Examine the cultural way of Pleng Bok music within the Pak Phanang River Basin in Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) Province and 2) Create a cultural map of Pleng Bok musicians in the same area. Employing qualitative research methods, data were collected from four key groups of informants: 1) Individuals knowledgeable about Pleng Bok, 2) Pleng Bok musicians, 3) Representatives from the government and private sectors, and 4) Audiences of Pleng Bok music performances, totaling 25 participants. The sample was chosen through purposive sampling, with key informants selected based on specific criteria aligned with the study's requirements. The research utilized in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, non-participatory observations in the Pak Phanang River Basin, and data collection from relevant documents. The findings were then used to create a cultural map through the participation process of the community and research team to identify, collect, and confirm the data of the cultural map before entering the data into the Thai cultural map system and descriptively presenting the data. The research findings indicate that Pleng Bok culture is a traditional performing art preserved for generations in the Pak Phanang River Basin, which includes four districts: Pak Phanang, Chian Yai, Hua Sai, and Chaloem Phra Kiat. Data were gathered on the history, legends, stories, and insights of four groups of Pleng Bok musicians: 1) The folk sage generation, 2) The expert generation, 3) The knowledgeable generation, and 4) The youth generation, along with the cultural regions they belong to. This map comprises 46 elements, including one cultural monument, 32 forms of folk performing arts from the Pleng Bok musicians, and 13 cultural areas. This knowledge leads to the systematic creation of the cultural map. It provides a comprehensive overview of the cultural heritage of Pleng Bok musicians in the Pak Phanang River Basin, NST, which can be leveraged for the benefit of the community.