An Analytical Study of Peaceful Culture of Pow Karen Ethnic Group A Case Study Of Sanepong Village, Laiwo Sub-District, Sangkhlaburi District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study (1) to study the history and the concept of life of the Pow Karen village, Sanepong Village, Laiwo Sub-district, Sangkhla Buri District, (2) to study peaceful culture of Pow Karen according to Buddhist peaceful means, (3) to analyze peaceful culture of Pow Karen according to Buddhist peace means.This thesis is a qualitative research of studying documents, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions from key informants divided into 6 groups of 20 people.

              The research  results were found as follows:

              1) Sanepong Village is a village with a history of more than 400 years; in the past. Sanepong Village was once the home of Sangkhlaburi town, and there was Phra Kaew Khao or Phra Rattana Sangkhlaburi-srisuwan, which was received from His Majesty King Somdej Phra Nang Klao in the reign of King Rama III as a Town Buddha Image.

              2) The people of Pow Karen in Sanepong Village has respected Buddhism and traditional beliefs; for the cultural peace of Pow Karen, Sanepong Village, it can be divided into 3 groups: 1. A Group of Concepts and traditions concerning traditional beliefs, i.e. beliefs about ancestral worship and the practice in compliance with the rules of the whole village in overall 21 Articles, 2. A Group of concepts and traditions related to agricultural occupation, i.e. concept of farming, concept of tree worship, Rice-eating tradition, New-rice tradition and Wrist-tie tradition, and 3. A group of concepts and traditions related to Buddhism, i.e. the tradition of 12 months and the tradition of Tree ordination.

          3) From the analysis of cultural peace according to Buddhist peaceful means of Pow Karen people in Sanepong Village, it is found that 1. The group of lifestyle Reflecting the practice of 5 Precepts, Monastic, Saraniyadhamma, Gharavatadhamma and Gharavasa-dhamma. 2. The group of concepts and traditions related to traditional beliefs include beliefs about ancestral worship the practice of Gratitude. 3. The Group of concepts and traditions related to agricultural occupation, i.e. concepts of farming and tree worship, including Rice-eating and the New-rice traditions, plus Wrist-tie tradition reflects the practices of Gratitude, Saraṇiyadhamma and Gharavasa-dhamma , and 4. The group of concepts related to traditions in Buddhism, including the 12-month tradition and the tradition of tree ordination reflects the practice according to principles of 5 Precepts, Saraṇiyadhamma, Gharavatadhamma to apply to living causing everyone in the community to live together peacefully.