Own Chao

Before the people bring the sacrificed food to Chao Tao in the spirit house,they also place sacrificed food at the bole of a big tree to worship the forest in the woods. The Tai people believe that forest spirits are the souls of spirits who faced a bad death (death caused by accident) murder or and hand no relatives. In the past,forest spirits were important to the Tai people. Later,they gave an offering to the soul of a leader who passed away in addition to the forest spirits. This implies that the society of the Tai people has been in transition from a traditionally simple society to a more complicated one with hierarchy of social structure: the ruler or leader and the followers or subordinates. One reason that they believe in "Chao Muang" (the spirit of the former city leader) is because in the past several groups of the Tai people attempted to establish their own kingdoms. They called the ruler of the territory "Chao." Sometimes there were conflicts among different groups of Tai people, so each group believes in their own Chao. For instance, while Khun Sah, an influential leader, decided not to fight against the Burmese army, other Tai leaders still continue to fight for an independent state. Even after the ritual ceremony, men can eat food in the compound of the spirit house whereas women have to stay and eat outside. This is another way to maintain the superior roles of men in social, political and religious functions of Tai people. They do not want women to be involved or be leaders of such activities.
The Tai people at Mai Hung (banyan tree) village, in Pang Mapah District can still keep the spirit-offering ritual alive today because they live in quite an isolated area. They believe that if people treat the spirit well and keep the spirits satisfied, the spirits will take care of the people and help the people live happily. The Tai people at Mai Hung village do not only revere Pee Muang, but also forest spirits, bad-death spirits and sprpirits with no relatives. It is a sign of respect for the supernatural powers that they believe in.
I have found that the rituals for Pee Muang spirit offerings in each village in Mae Hongson are not the same. About 10 years ago in Mae Lana village in Pang Mapah District, Tai people still conducted the spirit offerings ritual. During that time they could block the entrance to the village. Nowadays, they cannot do it any more because there is electricity and a concrete road to the village so people from outside, including government officials, merchants and tourists can pass through the village. At the same time, people in the village also need to contact people outside their own community. Blocking the village entrance for the spirit offering ritual is no longer possible as it once had been in the past. However, people in this village still organize an offering ritual every year. They will bring the food to the village spirit house. Pu Muang will pray to invite the soul of the Chao Muang spirit to receive the food and to guard the people in the village. He will also pick up oracle rice grains in the container. It he gets an even number of rice grains three consecutive times, it means the soul of Pee Chao Muang has accepted the offerings. The external culture has an influence on the beliefs and ritual practice of the Tai people. The power of the spirit on the fate of the village people has been challenged by civil society through higher education and technology. Maybe people from the city are not aware that their culture has brought anguish to the watching spirits, and thus it may eventually result in disaster for the village people. THE HIGHLANDERS