The Indigenous Knowledge of Illuminated Boat Procession of the Thai-Lao Ethnic Group in Mekong Sub-region

Abstract

The research design was mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The qualitative research was In-
Dept Interview with 60 peoples comprised 40 Thais, and 20 Laos and quantitative research was survey research with 520
peoples of Thai-Lao ethnics group who involved in Illuminated Boat Procession (IBP). The content from qualitative research was
analyzed to construct the questionnaire for quantitative research. Factor analysis was used for determination the component
factors. The objectives of this research were to study conservation of Buddhism Srikotrabun culture relate to IBP and to analyze
component factor of conserving IBP of Thai-Lao Ethnic Group in Mekong Sub-region. The results indicated that ten factors were
as the followings: 1) Indigenous wisdom of IBP is secret codes for merit-making, and a knowledge center of three worlds
(heaven, human and nether). 2) Local hydrographic knowledge related to geographical knowledge through practices of the Lord
Buddha’s worship and the ancestral worship. 3) The art of IBP passed from generation to generation via fundamental education.
4) Illuminated boat body of fire knowledge based on light and water that reflect dharma principles in human realm, the universe,
god realm and the river god. 5) Physical knowledge of earth, water, air, and fire that related to the elimination of misery existed in
all three realms: heaven, human and hell. 6) The lighted boat engineering and technology are wisdom related to aquatic plant
and animal ecology. 7) During the festival, it is believed that motherhood and living creatures were born from the theories of
physical science and wind folklore. 8) IBP is similar to the energy and chemical circulation in the living creatures’ food chain. 9)
IBP refers to philosophy and practices related to beliefs associated with Karma in Spirituality, Brahmanism, and Buddhism, and
to protect ethnic and ecosystem. 10) The lighted boat construction is the procedure of merit practice, forgiving, and sacrificing
connected to intellectual pathway.