A Study of Stories and Legends Associated with the Origins of the Village and Town Names, Mueang District, Loei Province

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to explore and compile stories, legends, and history accounts, and the origins of village and town names associated with the ecological system in Mueang District, Loei Province. Data were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and observation method. The findings were analyzed descriptive used to develop innovative media for presenting local knowledge to the community. The results were presented using descriptive analysis.
The results revealed that: 1. The study of stories and legends associated with the origins of village and town names has shown that the names of villages and towns in Mueang District, Loei Province are often derived from ecological environments. The naming origins can be categorized into six types: 1) Names based on geographical features, 2) Names derived from local animals, 3) Names inspired by plants or fruits, 4) Names reflecting specific environmental features within the community, 5) Names influenced by cultural and social characteristics or symbolic elements, and 6) Names representing the environment as a whole. 2. The analysis of the naming principles related to the ecological system has shown that stories and legends can be categorized into seven groups: 1) Stories and legends related to water, 2) Stories and legends related to soil/rice fields, 3) Stories and legends related to trees, 4) Stories and legends related to mountains/caves, 5) Stories and legends related to people /culture, 6) Stories and legend related to animals, and 7) Stories and legends related to other ecology characteristics. Cultural resource management has been done by utilizing information to develop innovative media that returns knowledge to the community in the following forms: 1) A book on the origins of village and town names in Mueang District, Loei Province; 2) A cultural tourism map; 3) A video introducing eco-tourism sites.