Power and Factors Affecting the Existence of Lanna Women in Ritual Media Space to Worship Ancestral Spirits (Phi Pu Ya)

Abstract

This research article aimed at the following: 1) examining the power of Lanna women in ritual media in the worship of ancestor spirits (Phi Pu Ya); and 2) examining the factors that had driven and obstructed the power of Lanna women from the past to the present. The analysis was carried out in three eras; the era of matriarch (before B.E. 1984); the era of women's changing status and identity formation (B.E. 1984 - 2539); and the era when women participated in tournaments and competitions (B.E. 2540 - 2564) The study employed a qualitative method. The data were collected from documents, field observations, and in-depth interviews. The obtained data were analyzed using a historical approach. 

From the study, the following results are found: 1) During the matriarchal era, power was wielded through subrogating the sacred power. The goal was to manage resources and the rituals of kindred. In the era of women's changing status and identity formation, power was used through transformation. The goal was to earn money for the family. In the era when women participated in tournaments and competitions, the power was used through the breakage of identity and Lanna women’s knowledge. The goal was to fulfill themselves, family’s reputations, and community. The power in each era was always under the belief in the worship of ancestor spirits (Phi Pu Ya); 2) The driving factors were divided into two which were (1) internal factors including Lanna family system, separation of cultural powers between women and men, molding of Lanna beliefs, and status of ritual media, (2) Lanna women-driven factors including the proximity to the space, the establishment of area as a sacred gender, and transfer of knowledge and communication spaces. The obstructing factors were (1) internal factors including the single-family system, and (2) external factors including monetary economy, influence of Buddhism, central governmental policy, the emergence of the LGBT in the ritual spaces, globalization, and risk society.