The study entitled “A Study of the Process in Preserving Buddhist Culture of Yong People in Mae Jan District, Chiang Rai Province” aimed 1) To study the Tai Yong’s background and way of life in Chiang Rai, 2) To investigate the process of inheriting Buddhist cultural way of life, and 3) To analyze Buddhist cultural way and Yong’s social network. This is a qualitative research conducted in community-based- research focusing on Yong’s history, their way of life-based on Buddhism, the process of inheriting Buddhist cultural way of life and analysis on Buddhist cultural way and Yong’s social network.

Research instruments were an in-depth interview with key informants combing with observation, literature review from documentation including an analysis on content consistency based on comparison with concepts and theories joined with the context of the study area.

Findings were as follows:

1) History and the way of life of the Yong people in Mae Jan District,    Chiang Rai: 

The migration of the Yong to Chiang Rai began in the reign of King Rama III. The city of Chiang Rai was revived to support Chiang Mai from Burmese invasion.                 The immigrants to Chiang Rai scattered in four districts. A large number of Yong population is found in Mae Chan, and the second to Mae Chan is Mae Sai and Chiangsaen respectively.

The Yong culture is simple and happy due to the devotion and dedication to preserving the Buddhist culture and Buddhism, and these are the power of participation from both Buddhist monks and villagers together to form a strong culture of the Yong people till present.

2) The process of inheriting the Buddhist culture of the Yong people in Mae Jan District, Chiang Rai :

The process of preserving the Yong culture from the past to present has been inherited through hereditary traditions and culture from the ancestors to generations. The cultural and traditions which are still present and related to Buddhism today are preserved and inherited by the imparting process at the family level through the process of socialization from the family – base, at committee level continuing in the form of various projects arranged in the community with the cooperation of temples, villages, schools, local administration organizations, and the combination of occupations.  At the social level, it is through the Association of Yong people in Mae Chan, such as the imparting process to the Yong culture to students of Chanjwa  school.

3) Buddhist cultural way and Yong’s social networking in Mae Jan District, Chiang Rai:

The Yong people’s cultural way based on Buddhism has played an important role in structuring the strong social network of the Yong people from past to present. This can be seen from the Buddhist culture from various traditional events arranged by temples the center of the network so-called “Huawat” (temples) which are located on the same network or area. Some temples may have a different area network, but through the relative relationship system or close connection with profound respect.

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