เฉ่อซียะ: ความรู้ วิถีชีวิต และโลกทัศน์ของชาวไทยกะเหรี่ยงบ้านทิพุเย จังหวัดกาญจนบุรี CHE ZU YA: LOCAL WISDOM, WAY OF LIVING, AND WORLD VIEW OF THAI KAREN PEOPLE IN THIPHUYE VILLAGE, KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

          The present study aimed at studying community context, and exploring local wisdom formulated by Thai Karen people living in Thiphuye Village, Chalae Subdistrict, Thongphaphum District, Kanchanaburi Province. A field survey, focus group discussion, geo-social mapping, field note, interview form, and interview were adopted as research instruments for data collection during February 2014- April 2015 with 13 key informants selected by purposive sampling, and content analysis and interpretation were chosen for data analysis. The findings revealed historical background of Thiphuye Village as an ancient Pwo Karen community whose ancestors have settled down in Thungyai Naresuan at Chalae Subdistrict for ages. Presently, a family system is still dominant within the community, and family members pay respects to ghosts and Buddhism. In addition, seasonal agriculture in particular to rice farming has become a major way of living among Thai Karen people for generations. Mutually, a relationship between Thai Karen community and western Thungyai Naresuan has long been established through time, and by this relationship, local wisdom has been formulated in forms of identity reflecting world view and way of living among community members in six aspects e.g., natural resource management, subsistence agriculture, food security, handicraft, indigenous medicine, and folk recreation.