The Existence of Tai Lue Textile in Chiangrai Province : An Analysis of Cultural Economy

Abstract

     The purposes of this study aimed to investigate the factors and conditions of promoting and supporting the existence of Tai Lue textiles in Chiang Rai Province, and to gather the cultural economy model of Tai Lue textiles. The findings of the study were as follows:

     Supporting and promoting factors for the existence of Tai Lue textiles were mainly from three cultural values which included economic, environmental, and social aspects. The results also indicated that the existence through the cultural economy could be remained by three supports, namely, science and technology, government and private sectors, and community. To maintain the existence of Tai Lue textiles, therefore, the ethnic identity of Tai Lue arts and culture should be preserved. However, this existence required processing through its managerial culture cycle which consisted of creativity; consumption, production, and participation; distribution and exhibition. To conclude, the model of cultural economy of Tai Lue textiles in Chiang Rai was composed of several elements including the existence of cultural capital and local wisdom or philosophers, the distributions of body of knowledge, the application of creativity to production, the promotion from government policies, and the proper way to pass-on to new generations.