The Transmission of the Chineseness to Chinese Descendants in Thai Society through the Understanding the Meaning and Religious Symbols

The research entitled “ The transmission of the Chineseness to Chinese descendants  in Thai society through the understanding the meaning and religious symbols” aims to investigate the existence of Chineseness in Thai society focusing on the transmission patterns and how Chineseness  being transferred to the young Chinese generation born in Thailand, which include the transfer of knowledge and understanding of the meaning of important Chinese festivals and traditions, problems related to the transmission of Chineseness, and the factors supporting the success of the  transmission of Chineseness. This study is an applied research integrating both quantitative and qualitative data which  collected by questionnaire  and an in-depth interview .  The findings are that a majority of the research participants still have their beliefs and faith in gods and sacred or holy items. Most of them still pay their respect to gods on Chinese Sabbath Days as well as to their ancestors . Chinese New Year and Chinese Autumn Festival are two Chinese traditional practices inherited to every Chinese family in Thai society. Chinese New Year, Chinese Autumn Festival, Vegetarian Festival, Moon Festival, God’s Thanks Giving Day, and Fifth Moon Festival are among the most important festivals which the young Chinese generation agreed that these festivals should be inherited to the next generation. Most of  participants have  knowledge and understanding of the meaning of Chinese New Year, Chinese Autumn Festival, Vegetarian Festival and God’s Thanks Giving Day. The transmission patterns of Chinese festivals and traditions are either direct or indirect. The problems regarding the transmission to the young generation relate to social, cultural and economic factors. The factors supporting the success of the transmission of Chineseness are accurate information given by the old to the young generation, a refining process in a family, encouragement of the sense of Chineseness to the young generation.