For those of you interested in the Thai love affair with the Lue of Sipsongpanna, here is another addition to the T(h)ai studies bookshelf. Yuan thi yungthong (Visit peacock-land): Sipsongpanna by Suphin Ritphen. It is an account of a three week visit to Sipsonpanna in 2006. There are plenty of pictures (but in black and white). ISBN: 9789747811964.
[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]
7 responses so far ↓
1 jonfernquest // Aug 10, 2007 at 3:44 pm
“Thai love affair with the Lue of Sipsongpanna”
But ironically no Thai love affair with the Tai Lue of their own country Thailand.
Or that would seem to be the implication when see loads of Tai Lue some of whom were born in Thailand but who still cannot become Thai citizens even though they are in their thirties, like the person who used to cut my hair whose brother took the expediency of buying a dead person’s id card in Isan which at first sight just looks like a pragmatic Thai way of doing things until you come across people who ended up in jail for 20 years, o whoops they didn’t end up in jail because they discretely and untransparently paid you know who cold cash for a get out of jail free card, wink, wink, nudge, nudge (the previous statement is completely non-referential, and the sentence I just wrote also such, so please disregard all of which I just said) but seriously the more nitpicking niggling the partisan arguments get the more a yes vote on the referendum seems like an enlightened act that may someday down the line allow people to get back to the issues that really matter.
That “persona non grata” sign I used to see over an outdoor shed in front of immigration meant for the Lue, the Khuen, the Shan, the Lue student at the university I taught at who denied who he was because the small-minded biggots who were his fellow classmates and my students would have made fun of him
NOSTALGIA does not equal LOVE
2 jonfernquest // Aug 10, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I want to apologise to Saowapha Viravong.
My observation had nothing to do with him (or her).
And wish to offer my thanks for mentioning new books.
But the idea that there is real true **caring** love [Pali: Metta] at work here, for other Tai ethnic groups: Lue, Khuen, Shan, Lao, is quite frankly ridiculous. If Thais and the Thai state in some abstract sense “loved” other Tai ethnic groups such as the Lue they would have proved it in their actions.
3 Andrew Walker // Aug 10, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Jon, no need to apologise. The headline was mine. It was meant to be ironic.
4 jonfernquest // Aug 10, 2007 at 10:33 pm
“It was meant to be ironic.”
That thought crossed my mind
but that headline was staring at me
from my google sidebar for two days
straight and a storm cloud was gathering
over my head, so to speak.
Going to buy the book.
5 LouisW // Aug 11, 2007 at 12:58 am
I always mistrust the Siamese scholars who try to draw a big conclusion by just spending mere three weeks in a nostalgic rural community of their little brothers… How would these miniature field-trips ever shed a light on their real plights? I still believe that Thai anthropologists and and the wanna-be’s need to have their homework done….
6 noppadon // Dec 17, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Dear Sir,
I have more interested the Book of Lue of Sipsongpanna,please let me know where can i get it? Is there the selling in Thailand?
Rgds,
Noppadon.
7 tinnakorn attapaiboon // Mar 22, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I IMPRESS SIP SONG PAN NA WHEN I VISITED ON NOV.-DEC.2008 SUPPORT BUDGET BY T.A.T I HAD PERFORMANCE
IN JINGHONG CHAINGRUNG. AND SUCCEED IN PERFORMED’
I EVER WATCHING SHOW IN PARANASRI THEATER IT IS EXCELLENT SHOW ABOUT THE CULTURE OF ETHNICITY TAI
-LUE IN YUNNAN. I WIIL BACK AGAIN COMING SOON.
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.