Ever wondered what it is like to give birth in Isan? Well, here is your chance to find out.
This beautifully illustrated volume offers a rare study of Isan-Thai customs and belief associated with pregnancy and birth and how they have changed over almost half a century. It discusses the function of various birth rites while giving an unmatched description of all traditions specifically connected to pregnancy and birth. The author includes an interesting description of the tradition of confinement by fire (yuu-fai) and documents that it is still widely practiced, contrary to what has been reported. He also puts forward a theory of why some traditions maintain their importance while others fade away. The findings of this study are supported by the transcription in Isan (and translated into English) of the ritual texts that are used in these rites.
The full publisher’s blurb is available here: poulsen-flyer.pdf
7 responses so far ↓
1 Around The Web « deathpower // Apr 24, 2008 at 2:37 am
[...] Anders Poulsen has just published a book on Childbirth in Isan, which promises to be a historical and detailed study of childbirth practices and their survival or disappearance in Isan. Notice over at New Mandala. [...]
2 Thai TV // Apr 24, 2008 at 4:19 am
If you want a brief explanation of confinement by ‘fire (yuu-fai)’ I suggest to read this extract fromas tudy by Anders Poulsen:
http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/afs/pdf/a473.pdf
3 Leif Jonsson // Apr 24, 2008 at 7:53 am
This brings to mind a classic, Maternity and its Rituals in Bang Chan, by Jane Hanks (Cornell SEAP, 1963). Jane is still around, and will turn 100 this year. There is equally interesting stuff on childbirth, a month of rest, and many other things (death, gender, the recycling of souls — and, fascinatingly, the gender switching of souls from one life to the next) in Patricia Symonds’ Calling in the Soul: Gender and the Cycle of Life in a Hmong Village (U Washington P, 2004). Maybe some of the Buddhist Tai /Thai can learn new things from people in the hills?
4 Srithanonchai // Apr 24, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I wonder how Poulsen’s study compares to Andrea Whittacker’s “Intimate Knowledge: Women and Their Health in North-east Thailand”.
5 Anders Poulsen // Apr 25, 2008 at 12:03 am
An online presentation of the book is available at http://www.sac.or.th, the websit of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Cente. This augment the study with almost 400 illustrations and also recordings of the ritual texts found in the book chanted by the ritual masters
6 Holly High // Apr 25, 2008 at 9:46 am
Dear Anders,
I followed that link but it seems to be just a general website for The Princess Maha Siridhorn Anthropology Centre – in which particular part of the site is the presentation located?
Many thanks
7 Anders Poulsen // Apr 26, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Dear Holly High
Unfortunately you are right, and I do hope it is temporarily, which I am to investigate. You do find it as follows: The site opens with a picture of the kings sister, who passed away in January. Just below her picture is a short text in Thai. Click on that, and the web should open. In the left column of this Thai-language page you will find a picture of the book-cover. Click on that, and the page should open. Please let me know if still problems.
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