China Of Dai People In Yunnan And Thailand Of Thai People In Nan Dragon Boat Races Culture A Comparative

Dragon boat, already been floating on Mekong River (Chao Phraya River) for thousands years. It built friendship and brotherhood relationship between Dai ethnic in Xishuangbanna-China with Nan Province Tai ethnic in Thailand. As the water for living, water accompanied two ethnics in the very long history which became an inseparable part of the history itself. When boat was discovered, it strengthens relationship between water and those ethnics, as a result produced and developed unique culture such as water boat culture. Dragon Boat Race is the most representative culture that combining water culture and boat culture. It expressed gratitude of ancestors because water gave vigor and vitality, beside that it also reflected ancestor’s thought about the world such as good partner of human (represented by dragon) and deep sense of love and respect (represented by boat).Water and dragon based on primitive worship and belief was inherited from ancient Baiyue civilization. Dai ethnics and Thai ethnics are descendant of Baiyue civilization, so they have same cultural roots. Different geographical situation and social environment make both of them develop in different way, even until now they produced amazing culture but different from each other.This paper main purpose was to compare dragon boat race of Dai ethnic and Nan Fu Thai ethnic, factors that compared and analyzed including specific and unique cultural features, characteristics, similarities, and differences of dragon boat race performance. Complemented from vertical history perspective, was explored deeply about relationship of dragon boat race culture, water culture, and Baiyue culture as the origin culture. Furthermore, based on dragon boat race development, several suggestions were proposed. Dragon boat race in the future not only acts as culture, but also could be a way for cultural exchanges and further cooperation between the two countries and two ethnics.Information in this paper was obtained primarily through study literature and on field direct investigation to get relevant data and information. Obtained data then organized, analyzed, and used comparison approach to write this paper.This paper was divided into 6 parts, Introduction, mainly contained background and purpose of study, research’s map, method, overview, and brief introduction of dragon boat race circumstances between China and Thailand.The first part gave brief summary that focused on the origin and distribution in current situation of dragon boat race in China and Thailand.The Second part described history and development of dragon boat race of Dai and Thai ethnics, also analysis the relationship of Baiyue culture influence to culture development of Dai and Thai ethnics.The third part talked about boat appearance of Dai and Thai ethnics, then reflect it to the ethnic’s cultural psychology, emotional, and cultural connotation.The fourth part described mechanisms of dragon boat race in Dai and Thai ethnics, classification of dragon boat.The fifth part analysis and Comparison between Dai and Thai boat racing for deeper understanding of the rituals, summarized social value and spiritual value that contained.The sixth part Xishuangbanna Dai and Nan Thai:elucidating hope and prospects of cultural exchange between China and Thailand in the future.The last part summarized and sorted out conclusion and main points of this paper.