MYTHS AND RITUALS IN CULTURAL INTERPRETATION FOR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF PHU WIANG MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY, WIANG KAO DISTRICT, KHON KAEN PROVINCE

Abstract

This article was study of myths and rituals in concerning cultural interpretation in Phu Wiang Mountain, Wiang Kao District, Khon Kaen Province that aimed to 1. Study myths and rituals in Phu Wiang Mountain, Wiang Kao District, Khon Kaen Province 2. Analyze cultural interpretation in natural resource management of the community. A site visit was conducted in order to collect information from knowledgeable persons in the community. There was also an application of folkloristic approach to collect stories, myths and local history including an implementation of cultural interpretation approach in myths and local rituals. The site visit was employed for collecting data and analyzing social phenomena regarding the concepts and theories. 

Findings of the study were found that living in Phu Wiang Mountain community, Wiang Kao, Khon Kaen Province engaged cultural interpretation as a regulation and custom of the community in order to augment values and morality. Cultural interpretation was emphasized on natural resource management in order to make community members become aware of community’s natural resources preservation. This was to reduce impacts and conflicts regarding natural resources in the community by employing supernatural beliefs for prerogative bargaining which manifested value through myths and community rituals.