A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ZHUANG AND THE THAI CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

This article attempts to propose that the Zhuang, a Tai-speaking people in Quznzi, Chinese civilizations. Situated in similar ecological settings, they shared many aspects of socio-cultural characteristics, namely the genesis myths, rice culture, fermented food, the Dong Son bronze drum, a belief in Khwan, the practice of life-crisis and agricultural rites and particularly the bilateral kinship system.

Despite all of this evidence, it would be misleading to conclude that the ancient Zhuang were once the ancestors of the Siamese since many other ethnic groups in this region also have similar cultural features. Instead, the relationship between the Zhuang and the Siamese only suggests shared patterns of Southeast Asian Culture.