Traditional Social Structure and Its Changes in Current Muong Societies in Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam

บทคัดย่อ

This article examines the traditional social structure of the Muong and its influences on their society in the modern society of Muong people in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. The author employs the methodology of Structuralism and Functionalism along with anthropological methods, observations, data collection, and in-depth interviews. The author points out that the Muong people still appreciated the role of religious dignitaries and the critical existence of the elder in their occupation despite the fact that their social structure has been officially eliminated since 1954. Nowadays, the local authority of Hoa Binh province is paying more attention to preserving the traditional values of shaman and stimulating the young Muong people to study their patois to protect positive cultural values through the role of Muong social classes in the context of modernization. Simultaneously, the author intends to propose some influential solutions to consult with the authority and local groups of Muong people in Hoa Binh province to implement appropriate policies of cultural preservation in Hoa Binh province effectively in the future.