Local Wisdoms in Thailand-Malaysia Border Culture: A Case Study of Lohjood Community, Narathiwat Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate local wisdoms in Thailand-Malaysia border culture, a case study of Lohjood Community in Waeng District, Narathiwat Province adjacent to the Thailand-Malaysia border and BalaHala Wildlife Sanctuary. Data of this qualitative study were collected through observations Local Wisdomsand in-depth purposive interviews with the community leader, skilled craftsmen, art performers, and locals. Then adescriptive analysis was written.The results of the study in each aspect revealed that in the art aspect, there are handicraft products, musical instruments made of local natural materials, and bird cages, all of which reflect aesthetic value. In the aspect of cultural heritage management, there is a local museum founded by a former community leader, and inherited by the younger generations who try to maintain and manage it without having to entirely depend on the government. In the aspect of philosophy and belief, people in this community are Buddhists and Muslims who maintain their religions. The belief in music can be seen in their use of Tueri music for healing which is still in existence while the rite of paying respect to Muslim shadow puppet masters no longer exists as shadow puppet shows in the community faded away. In the linguistic aspect, there are the same words commonly used by Thai Buddhists and Thai Muslims. These local wisdoms reflect integration of Thailand-Malaysia border culture, cross-culture learning, self-identities that are varied according to the context, unity between Buddhists and Muslims, and survival of local wisdoms amidst modern social change.