Local Wisdom of Tee Klee Fai in Thai Society: Case Study of a Traditional Performance Exclusively to Ban Nongkhewng Kuttum Sub-district, Muang District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

          This research aimed 1) to study historical background and the local way of life within the community, 2) to study local wisdom in a traditional performance of Tee Klee Fai in the community, and 3) to explore practical guidelines to preserve and promote continuity of Tee Klee Fai tradition within the community. This research was conducted through a qualitative approach studying the locals from Ban Nong Khewng village, Kut Tum sub-district, Muang district, Chaiyaphum province. A sampling group consisted of the local key informants such as community leaders, local intellectuals, advisory experts, committees of the village and the locals.

          The findings revealed that:

1) On the part of the historical background and the local way of life within the community, the first group of the locals in Ban Nong Khewng village originally immigrated from Kut Tum village, Muang district, Chaiyaphum province because of their perceived fertility of the land. In B.E. 2486, Ban Nong Khewng village was politically separated from Kut Tum village thus, the locals formed the village in accordance with natural landscape of a large swamp in their community.

2) In terms of the local wisdom in a traditional performance of Tee Klee Fai within  the community, the findings revealed that Tee Klee Fai tradition is the local wisdom practiced during winter season using bamboo and silk cotton wood as equipments in order to warm the body up when cold. Such tradition has been continuously held at least for the past century.

3) In order to preserve and promote continuity of Tee Klee Fai tradition within the community, the findings suggested that the practical guidelines comprise (1) transferring of the local wisdom to children (2) transferring of the local wisdom to adults (3) cultivating value-based realization among the locals (4) preserving and inheriting the tradition (5) preserving  identity of the community (6) distributing the tradition by means of mass communication (7) developing potential and capacity of the community as a selling point (8) obtaining promotion and support from government and private sectors.