Tee Hu Ong Eia as a Cultural Hero of the Villagers of the Sai Buri Community in Pattani Province

Abstract

The study of Tee Hu Ong Eia, a cultural hero of the Sai Buri people in Pattani, was shaped by the peaceful coexistence of the local community. Despite the villagers’ diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Chinese descendants and Thai Buddhists, they maintain harmonious relationships, largely due to their shared reverence for Tee Hu Ong Eia as a protector of their homeland. The research employed a methodological framework to examine cultural heroes through narratives and rituals. The scope of the study covered the Sai Buri Community in Pattani and applied theoretical concepts related to the transmission of cultural meaning through stories and rituals. Data collection involved participatory observation of rituals and semi-structured interviews. The key informants comprised (1) four Chinese descendants and (2) four Thai Buddhists, three of whom conducted rituals at shrines, while the remaining performed rituals at home. The narratives provided by the villagers were analyzed, and the findings were presented through a descriptive analysis of the stories and rituals conveying the cultural significance of Tee Hu Ong Eia. The  results indicate that, despite their ethnic differences, both Chinese descendants and Thai Buddhists in the Sai Buri Community live in peaceful coexistence, united by their shared admiration for Tee Hu Ong Eia as a cultural hero. The narratives and rituals revealed three key attributes associated with Tee Hu Ong Eia:
(1) courage, (2) patriotism, and (3) sacrifice. This study contributes to the understanding of how shared cultural figures can foster social cohesion in ethnically diverse communities. It provides a framework for relevant organizations to promote intercultural harmony by emphasizing common cultural heroes as sources of collective identity and spiritual support, thereby encouraging peaceful cohabitation in diverse societies.