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เธงเธฒเธฃเธชเธฒเธฃเธงเธดเธˆเธขเธฑ เธงเธ’เธฑ เธ™เธ˜เธฃเธฃเธก เน“ (เน‘)

Social and cultural Identities
of the Chong Ethnic in Thailand

Assistant Professor Jetchan Atthaisong
Mr. Kamron Wangsri
Mr. Chen Phanpai
Mr. Sopheak Vann
Mr. Tun Pheakdey
Mr. Chum Lay

Abstract
This paper aims to study the social and cultural identities of the Chong people in
Thailand. This descriptive research employed survey research. An in-depth interview was
used with key informants in the Chong community to elicit the social and cultural
characteristics of the people. A focus group and cooking were organized to evaluate the
differences and similarities of identity. The data analysis indicated that the Chong ethnic
group is an ancient tribe descended from the Austro-Asiatic ethnic group called Mon-khmer
clan whose members married to Samre and Por people in Cambodia เน’เนเน years ago.
The Chong people have lived at foothills of the Thai-Cambodia border consisting of
the following districts and provinces: 1) Chanthaburi Province covering Khao Khitchakut
District, Makham District and Pong Nam Ron District: 2) Trat Province covering Bo Rai District
and Mueang District: 3) Chachoengsao Province covering Tha Takiap District and:
4) Kanchanaburi Province covering Si Sawat District.
Regarding the language, the Chong language is part of the Mon-Khmer language family
in the Pearic language group called Chong language. It has a spoken language but does not
have a written language.
The clothing is as follows. 1) Women wear loincloths around their waists when staying
at home. They typically wear tops with sleeves or vests to cover their upper body and
shoulders. The colors of the fabric are blue, indigo, green, black or navy blue. Nowadays,
women wear colored clothing according to popularity and fashion trend. Men wear loincloths
to cover their waists. They do not wear shirts when staying at home and cover their shoulders
with loincloths.

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