Kak Laow Dang: The Food Cultural Heritage of the Hokchiu Chinese in Na Bon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

บทคัดย่อ

     This study investigated Kak Laow Dang: the food cultural heritage of the Thai-Hokchiu Chinese community in Na Bon Sub-district, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The objectives were 1) to examine the community context of the Hokchiu Chinese in Na Bon Sub-district, Na Bon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and 2) to explore the intangible cultural heritage of Kak Laow Dang among the Thai-Hokchiu Chinese in the area. A sample of 25 Thai-Hokchiu Chinese individuals were selected using purposive sampling, including cuisine experts, producers, and users of the sauce. Data were collected via semi-structured, in-depth interviews concerning the intangible cultural heritage of Kak Laow Dang. The data was analyzed and integrated with a literature review, presented using descriptive analysis. The key findings indicate that geographical factors significantly influence Kak Laow Dang's intangible cultural heritage, ensuring the sufficiency of raw materials. The successful preservation of this migrant group's cultural roots is evident in the increased use of the sauce over the past 30–40 years. The transmission of knowledge occurs through experience and observation within the family unit. Kak Laow Dang is also valued for its perceived health-boosting properties. The local geography contributes to the sauce's unique production process. Ultimately, social capital acts as a vital mechanism for conserving this local wisdom by integrating the community’s knowledge, beliefs, and values, thereby transforming Kak Laow Dang into a valuable local resource and capital. The continuous transfer of this knowledge signifies a sense of ownership and has deeply integrated Kak Laow Dang into the local way of life, with its use in propitious events reinforcing the community's robust cultural identity.