Childbirth and tradition in northeast Thailand : forty years of development and cultural change

Anders Poulsens term as a UNESCO expert terminated in 1962, but he has returned to the same area of Northeast Thailand many times since, most recently in 2005. As such, this beautifully illustrated volume offers a rare study of Isan-Thai customs and belief associated with pregnancy and birth and how they have changed over almost half a century. Using a psychological and socio-therapeutic framework, Anders Poulsen discusses the function of various birth rites as well as giving an unmatched description of all traditions specifically connected to pregnancy and birth. He includes an interesting description of the tradition of confinement by fire (yuu-fai) and documents that it is still widely practiced, contrary to what has been reported. He also puts forward a theory of why some traditions maintain their importance while others fade away. The findings of this study are supported by the transcription in Isan (and translated into English) of the ritual texts that are used in these rites. Title Page ......Page 4 Contents......Page 7 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Editor’s Introduction......Page 14 Part 1: Customs of Pregnancy and Birth– Then and Now ......Page 20 Prologue......Page 22 Baan Phraan Muean – a Village Community ......Page 26 Change and Development ......Page 33 2. Faith, Belief, and Birth......Page 44 Village Belief......Page 45 Khwan Rites......Page 47 Mae Kamlerd......Page 55 The Spirit World and the Birth......Page 68 3. Ritual Practice Surveyed, 1961-2005......Page 74 Everyday Practice of the Pregnancy Rites ......Page 75 Development and Changing Customs......Page 78 4. Pregnancy and Birth Surveyed, 1961-2005......Page 80 Attitudes to Pregnancy......Page 82 Health and Nutrition – an Evaluation......Page 86 Midwives......Page 89 The Birth of a Child......Page 93 After the Birth......Page 95 Protecting the Mother......Page 100 The Infant in the Kradong......Page 102 Concluding Remarks......Page 105 5. The Confinement – Yuu Fai......Page 110 Yuu Fai – an Evaluation......Page 122 6. The Young Baby......Page 128 Part 2: The Ritual Texts ......Page 142 Introduction......Page 144 Suukhwan Maemaan......Page 156 Taengkae Maemaan......Page 168 Taengkae Mae Kamlerd......Page 202 Smaller Rites......Page 216 Traditional Recipes......Page 224 Part 3: Appendices ......Page 236 Research Process and Methodology......Page 238 A Note on the Isan Language......Page 246 Principles for the Transcription of Isan Names and Words......Page 252 Glossary......Page 257 A Brief Survey of Literature......Page 266 Bibliography......Page 270 Index......Page 282 "This illustrated volume offers a rare study of Isan-Thai customs and belief associated with pregnancy and birth and how they have changed over almost half a century. Using a psychological and socio-therapeutic framework, Anders Poulsen discusses the function of various birth rites as well as giving an unmatched description of all traditions specifically connected to pregnancy and birth. He includes an interesting description of the tradition of confinement by fire (yuu-fai) and documents that it is still widely practiced, contrary to what has been reported. He also puts forward a theory of why some traditions maintain their importance while others fade away. The findings of this study are supported by the transcription in Isan (and translated into English) of the ritual texts that are used in these rites."--BOOK JACKET A unique longitudinal study spanning 40 years of childbirth practices, cultural change and social development.