THE STUDY OF LOCAL WISDOM FROM VILLAGERS’ WAYS OF LIFE IN MUEN WAI SUB-DISTRICT, MUANG NAKHON RATCHASIMA DISTRICT, NAKHON RATCHASIMA PROVINCE

Abstract

This study aimed to collect local wisdom from a sample of villagers’ way of life and to analyze the value of local wisdom in the villagers’ way of life at Muen Wai sub-district, Muen Wai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province. This qualitative research employed an unstructured interview for data collection and inductive analysis. Findings revealed that Muen Wai villagers accumulated their local wisdom from their way of life and inherited it for the present time as follows: 1) Treatment for healing bones, tendons and muscles with sesame oil; 2) Food, including how to make instant curry paste Mae Prapha and rice vermicelli Pradok; 3) Arts and crafts, including making Baaisri (i.e., a bowl with a pedestal decorated with banana leaves, containing flowers, candles and food) to pay respect to teachers, for sick people, for students, for those who are to be ordained as a monk, as well as Baaisri for the annual cadaver worship of the Muen Wai community. In terms of the value of local wisdom in their way of life, it was found that: 1) villagers have seen the usefulness from nature and the environment and made use of that knowledge in their way of life; 2) villagers in the Muen Wai community become loved and united; 3) it creates moral strength; 4) it creates jobs or careers and increases the income for people in the community; and 5) it improves the health and quality of life for the people in the community.