The Bru Hai Tai So Tradition and the Construction of Cultural Space

Abstract

This research article aims to examine the construction of cultural space within the “Bru Hai Tai So” tradition in Dong Luang District, Mukdahan Province. Fieldwork data collection was conducted from January 2025 to January 2026. Data were gathered through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 key informants, alongside both non-participant and participant observation. 

The research findings reveal that the Tai So people in Mukdahan Province settled in large communities in Dong Luang District, where they closely maintain their ancestral ritualistic practices while simultaneously constructing the Bru Hai Tai So tradition. This tradition reflects the integration and utilization of folklore capital including traditions, rituals, narratives, vernacular architecture, and local handicrafts. This capital serves as a key tool in constructing the cultural space of the Tai So people in Dong Luang District, Mukdahan Province, through the joint participation of both the public sector and local communities. The cultural space of the Tai So people as manifested through the Bru Hai Tai So tradition, can be categorized into four dimensions: 1) physical space and the cultural lifestyle of the Tai So people; 2) sacred space and the construction of rituals in public spheres; 3) historical space and the narration of identity; and 4) cultural tourism space and the negotiation of ethnic identity.