Kham Kub Ngu Lai: The Literary Transformation from Palm-Leaves to Pocket Books in Xishuangbanna

Abstract

This article is part of the thesis entitled “A Study of a Tai Lue Literature: Kham Khab Ngu Lai” which is the transformation of Jātaka literature outside the original Nipāta named "Niyay Lai Ngu" in the Lanna region, in the form of inscriptions on palm leaves. When the religious influence brought about written characters, language and stories to the Tai Lue people living in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. This resulted in "Niyay Lai Ngu" being written in a "Kham Khub" form and recorded on a piece of paper known as a "folded head". The spread of foreign literature caused some particles to be changed, including the reduction and increase in the content of the palm leaf version from "Niyay Lai Ngu" to be the “Kham Khub Khao Ngu Lai Phub Hua" with a story that provides more insight into the way of life, beliefs, and social practices of the Tai Lue people in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture whereas the Jātaka style is still written in the same style as the palm leaf version. When the Chinese Cultural Revolution took control over the ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna the people were forced to use the new Tai Lue characters until after the Cultural Revolution ended in 1979 when there was a movement to revive folk literature. Many volumes of ancient literature were published in the new Tai Lue script, of which “Kham Khab Ngu Lai Pocket Book Edition” in 1986 was part of the said folk literature. The results of the study found that from the “Paim leaf edition of the niyayl Lai Ngu ” to the Phab Hua edition of “Kham Khab Khao Ngu Lai” to the “Kham Chan Ngu Lai pocket book version” there are clearly parts that have been changed in each edition as follows: 1) writing style 2) story 3) names of characters 4) beliefs and teachings which show the continuous adjustment period operating under the differences between eras, cultural beliefs and social worldview which are the factors that make the authors’ intentions appear in different forms.