THAI PHUAN BAN PHUE: IDENTITY, CULTURAL PRESERVATION, AND CULTURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The Thai Phuan are an ethnic group that has played a significant role in the history and cultural development of Thailand, particularly the Thai Phuan community in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, which has continuously preserved its cultural identity, traditions, language, and local wisdom. This article aims to (1) examine the historical background of the Thai Phuan community in Ban Phue, (2) analyze its significant cultural identity, (3) propose approaches for cultural conservation in the contemporary social context, and (4) develop cultural tourism based on cultural identity and the sustainable conservation of local wisdom.

This study employs documentary analysis of historical records in conjunction with data from community learning resources, with particular emphasis on the Thai Phuan Ban Phue Museum, which serves as a central institution for transmitting knowledge related to language, arts and culture, traditions, and indigenous wisdom of the Thai Phuan people.The findings reveal that the cultural identity of the Thai Phuan community in Ban Phue is characterized by the use of the Phuan language, traditional rituals and ceremonies, community-based ways of life, and local wisdom in the production of the E-Pho checkered cloth with nine auspicious colors. These cultural heritages are preserved through social mechanisms such as intergenerational transmission within families, the continuation of traditional practices, museum-based learning activities, and community participation networks.

Although the community faces challenges in the era of globalization, including the decline in Phuan language usage and changes in lifestyle influenced by urban society, it has demonstrated adaptability through cultural networking and the development of the creative economy. This study emphasizes the importance of sustaining Thai Phuan cultural identity through community participation and governmental support, while promoting cultural tourism as a mechanism for enhancing cultural value and ensuring long-term sustainability at both local and international levels.