Maintaining Ethnic Culture Through Contemporary Museums: The Transformative Journey of the ‘Tai Yuan Samo Khae’ in Phitsanulok, Thailand

Farung Mee-Udon

doi:10.69650/jcdrhs.2025.916

Authors

Farung Mee-Udon Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69650/jcdrhs.2025.916

Keywords:

Community Participation, Contemporary Museums, Ethnic Culture, Globalization, MUSEOPEN, Tai Yuan Samo Khae

Abstract

This study examines how the Tai Yuan communities in Samo Khae Subdistrict, Phitsanulok preserves its cultural heritage amid pressures from dominant cultures and globalization. It argues that despite their marginalized status, the Tai Yuan effectively sustain their traditions through adaptive, community-driven initiatives. Employing qualitative methods including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and participatory approach this study investigates the community’s cultural transformation using the MUSEOPEN framework in contemporary museum settings. The findings indicate that the MUSEOPEN process promotes community engagement and intergenerational collaboration, leveraging both physical and digital platforms for cultural transmission. Digital media empowers the Tai Yuan to assert cultural agency, involve younger generations, and reshape public perceptions of their heritage. The study concludes that cultural resilience in the context of globalization depends not only on preservation, but also on innovation and inclusive community participation.

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