A Reflection of Chinese Culture in Narispong Rakwattananon’s Collection of Short Stories “Family Comes First”

Abstract

This research article aimed to investigate the reflection of Chinese culture in a collection of short stories entitled “Family Comes First” by Narispong Rakwattananon. Data were gathered from 11 short stories and the content analysis was employed in the analysis. The results revealed three distinct aspects through which Chinese culture was portrayed. The first aspect concerned language serving as a culture that represented the nation, nationality, and unity of the people. The second aspect was related to people’s values, particularly the prioritization of male over female offspring, the significance of son’s marriage as a means of inheriting the family lineage, and respecting and obeying the elders. These values were found to be the causes of family problems. The last aspect included customs and beliefs such as paying respect to deities in the shrines, adorning spaces with red lanterns, donning traditional red Chinese costumes, showing reverence to ancestral spirits, and the practice of giving red envelops.