 | Buddhism and the spirit cults in North-east Thailand |  |
(B) Secular specialists for whom literacy is required
1. Puyaiban (headman): Number in 1966 = 1. Tradionally literacy not
required, although in theory required. Primary role is mediating between
village and district administration. Today, usually versed in Lao and
Thai scripts, though, since records kept are minimal, writing competence
is not advanced. Has usually been a monk, and may be a village elder
with the prestige and qualifications of mau khwan.
2. Mau lum (folk opera entertainer): Number in 1966 = 2. Entertainers
are both male and female. Reading and copying ability in Lao and, today,
Thai scripts required, but not Tham script; special emphasis on memorization
of words. Elementary schooling is essential but not service as
monk/novice.
3. Khruu (schoolteacher): Number in 1966 = 4. As a professional
specialist he is quite recent (since the 1930s) and has replaced the teaching
monk. He has to teach Thai in the Thai script in village school. Perfectly
fluent—both in reading and writing—in Lao and Thai scripts, but not
in Tham sacred script which gives access to traditional regional Buddhist
and other ritual texts. Teachers are not interested in the forms of literacy
of the paahm/mau khwan type. Since Buddhist texts are today being
increasingly printed in Thai script, they are versed in Buddhism.
| Buddhism and the spirit cults in North-east Thailand | |