THE WAY OF LIFE OF THAIYOY RELATED TO BUDDHISM

Abstract

The purposes of this research were: 1) to study the background of Thaiyoy ethnic groups; 2) to analyze the way of life of Thaiyoy folks towards Buddhism. This research was the qualitative research conducted by collecting the data from the interview and documents. The key informants were the Buddhist monks and the Akat folks in Akat Umnouy district. The data were analyzed by using the descriptive analysis. The results of the research are found that 1) Thaiyoy folks are the ethnic groups who have the long chronicle of migration from Homtoaw village, the Laos country to be located in the territory of Moung Rimyam village. At the present, this village is in Akat Umnouy district and some migrated to the west of Akat Umnouy district and entered to live in Vanonnivas district. The tradition is related to the life, that is, the Thaiyoy folks’ tradition in Akat village is still maintained as practices such as the birth tradition by binding the alms, being ordained by blessing ceremony for longevity of life, to be married by auspicious ceremony and the death by chanting and making merit to devote to the death or funeral or burning or collecting the bolds. From the data, it is seen that every tradition as mentioned is still practiced until the present because the majority of people practice in accordance with traditions. Some who have done that they feel happy and the others have done in order to have auspicious life. In Thaiyoy ethnic groups, they are diligent in working and they earn living economically. They have the features of their own cultures. These Thaiyoy folks believe in Buddhism. It plays an influence role on the lifestyles and makes change in living to combine with the way of cultures. Thaiyoy folks in Akat village still have the dominant characteristics as the identity and various qualities of the former ethnics’ heritage.