An Analysis of Social Reflections in Thai and Lao Blessings and Chants

Abstract

              The objectives of this research were 1) to study social reflections on beliefs presented
in blessings and chants of Lanna and Lan Chang cultures, 2) to examine the social reflections on ways
of life in the blessings and chants of the two cultures, and 3) to study the social reflections on values appearing in the blessings and chants of the two cultures. The research employed qualitative method. Data collection covered 63 blessings and chants of the Lanna culture in Thailand and 60 blessings
and chants of the Lan Chang culture in Laos

              The findings of the research could be divided into three categories.

1. Social reflections on beliefs: Those beliefs were in souls, ghosts, belief, sacred spirits, hell, heaven, auspiciousness, inauspiciousness, and law of karma. Both of the cultures shared these beliefs
   in common. However, the obvious difference among them was numbers of souls. There were 32 souls found in the Lanna culture in Thailand whereas there were 30, 32, and 90 souls in the Lan Chang culture in Laos.
2. Social reflections on ways of life:  Those ways of life included occupations, consumption, childcare, and interactions with neighbors. Those ways of life were similarities in both of the cultures which distinctively reflected all aspects in ways of rural life in the past.
3. Social reflection on values: Those values were gratitude, honor, fame, wealth, costumes, respect for seniors and the elderly, and education. There were similarities in both of the cultures. On the other hand, the difference was the modern value in education inserted in the blessings and chants of the Lan Chang culture in Laos. This was due to the fact that the country allowed its people to study abroad.