"Taek Baan”: Dynamics and Existence: Spirit , Brahmansism and Buddhism. Case Study of Si Somdet District, Roi Et Province (1867 - 2024)

Abstract

This academic article aims to present the dynamics of the Taek Ban tradition in Si Somdet District, Roi Et Province. This tradition reflects the integration of animist, Brahmanical, and Buddhist beliefs within the social and cultural context of the Isan people. It highlights the changing dynamics of beliefs that have played roles in shaping the Taek Ban tradition, as well as the persistence of syncretic belief systems that have developed into a distinctive local spiritual identity. The study draws upon documentary sources, online materials, and oral history and is presented through a descriptive–analytical approach. The findings indicate that the Taek Ban tradition originated from community migrations undertaken to escape epidemic outbreaks beginning around 1867, when cholera and smallpox spread in Ban Khok and Ban Nong Prong in Roi Et. These migrations were associated with community beliefs in supernatural forces. Over time, the ritual incorporated elements of Brahmanical religion, such as astrological calculations and soul-calling ceremonies, together with Buddhism as a source of spiritual refuge.

From 1987 onward, the context of Si Somdet District changed from rural communities to semi-urban settlements. The expansion of infrastructure, education, and capitalist economic systems transformed the Taek Ban tradition from a practice rooted in fear and belief into a customary ritual maintained in accordance with ancestral traditions. When state-led development and capitalism became connected to local communities through digital media, the significance of belief systems was diminished, leading to the organization of the tradition primarily as a recreational activity. Various external stimuli have further contributed to the gradual decline of the Taek Ban tradition in Si Somdet District over time. The persistence and decline of the Taek Ban tradition reflect shifting power relations, religious adaptation, and the effects of modernization on local culture in contemporary Isan society.