Abstract:
The objective of this research is to study economic structure and cultural system of the village community of Nakhon Si Thammarat before 1892 and how it had changed during 1892 and 1961. The study does not follow such theories strictly, but studies the community in many aspects from its own point of view rather than from outside. The study emphasizes economic structure, which is the combination of productive forces and the social relations of production. Geographic factors and the cultural system, and they are explained via the way of life of villagers. The main sources of data is from interviewing. This research found that the fertility of natural resources and the system of living together are the basis of economic structure and cultural system. The village community is highly self-subsistent, with technology which is harmonious to nature. The villagers have the system of helping and sharing with one another on the basis of Nam Jai and the system of living together with nature ; therefore, there is no internal conflict which may lead to new mode of production. However, not only economic factors seem to be obstacles but other various factors, such as geological factors and economic structure superimposed by cultural system, also help reducing external attacks. This made the village community seem static while it is dynamic, developing gradually under the system of equilibrium and the way of Nam jai.