Sacred Landscapes and Ritual Practices of the Thai Song Dam: A Cultural Study from Nong Prong subdistrict, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/ajac.2027.174Keywords:
Sacred landscape, Ritual geography, Thai Song Dam, Cultural identityAbstract
This study examines the spatial organization of ritual spaces and sacred sites within the Thai Song Dam community in Nong Prong Subdistrict, Thailand, focusing on how sacred landscapes are constructed, maintained, and transformed through ritual practices and everyday life. Employing a qualitative approach, the research integrates ethnographic fieldwork with spatial analysis, including field surveys, observations, and in-depth interviews with community members and local leaders. The findings show that ritual spaces are deeply embedded in residential areas, kinship structures, and social organization rather than being spatially distinct. Lineage-based ancestral shrines, typically located near village centers, serve as key ritual nodes that reinforce collective memory, kinship ties, and ethnic identity. Communal spaces, such as temples and community centers, function as shared ritual grounds during festivals, reflecting the integration of indigenous beliefs with Buddhism. From a ritual geography perspective, sacred landscapes are continuously produced through ritual performances and spatial practices that temporarily transform everyday spaces into sacred places. Moreover, these spaces adapt to ongoing social and cultural changes, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of sacred landscapes in Thai Song Dam communities.
Highlights
This study examines the sacred landscapes and ritual geography of the Thai Song Dam community in Nong Prong Subdistrict, Phetchaburi Province. The findings reveal that ritual spaces are closely integrated with settlement patterns, kinship systems, and everyday life, while ancestral shrines function as symbolic centers of collective memory and ethnic identity. Ritual practices continuously transform ordinary communal spaces into sacred places and reflect the dynamic integration of indigenous beliefs with Buddhism. Combining ethnographic research with spatial analysis, the study provides insights for culturally grounded heritage conservation and community-based planning. This article is part of the research project entitled “Adaptation of Ethnic Communities to Environmental, Economic, and Social Changes: A Case Study of the Thai Song Dam Community in Phetchaburi Province,” funded by the Research, Innovation, and Creative Fund, Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University.
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