Abstract:
To study the persistence and change in Thai-Chinese funeral ritual. Data are collected from relevant documents, participant observation and in-depth interview. It is a case study of Wat Hualumpong in Bangkok Metropolis. The research has been discovered that the perfect Thai-Chinese funeral uses Chinese coffin, burns toy furniture and utensils during a funeral, and buries a dead body. However, presently, the Thai-Chinese funeral has been changed to be more Thai funeral style. For example, there may be using Thai coffin, called a square coffin, or not doing Chinese custom of burning toy furniture and utensils during a funeral or cremating. Furthermore, the case study's finds that first's Chinese generation have no perform only Chinese funeral ritual but also change to be Thai funeral ritual. Additionally, Chinese's funeral in Thailand of next generation will continue to be Chinese funeral ritual for the old generation or changed to be more Thai funeral for younger generations. The important reason of Thai-Chinese funeral change in the past is political. However, nowadays, the strong motivation of Thai-Chinese funeral development is economic. Furthermore, the several causes of change are education, Chinese language knowledge, Thai-Chinese family system, and Chinese association membership. Even though the trend of Thai-chinese funeral is changing into the Thai one, the Thai-Chinese funeral will still persist due to new chinese migration into Thailand.