Phi Mon Beliefs of the Chet Rio’s Mon Ethnic Community: Their Function as Resource Allocation Mechanisms
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Abstract
The research for this article studied the function of resource
allocation toward the Phi Mon beliefs of the Chet Rio’s Mon ethnic community, Amphoe Banphaeo, Changwat Samutsakhon. The field data were collected from their ways of practices and rituals based on the Phi Mon beliefs through interviews, observations and participatory observations. The study found that the Phi Mon beliefs have divided people in the Mon ethnic community into different spiritual families, namely Phi Tao, Phi Gai, Phi Ngu and Phi Pla Lhai. In addition, their ways of practices and rituals based on the Phi Mon beliefs have played a part in resource allocation through animal symbolism that connects ritual relations with these spiritual family members. Similarly, “stealing” is considered a special practice that provides ritual license and a taboo that forbids members of different spiritual families from celebrating in
the same year. These functions are the objectives behind the beliefs of the Mon ethnic community that were developed in the past and have been carried on to the Chet Rio’s Mon ethnic community today.
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