Khmer

 

Direct descendants of the populations that once formed part of the Khmer Empire which flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, this community has an enduring imprint across eastern Thailand. Today, Khmer communities are primarily organized around village-based agrarian life, with social structures that emphasize bilateral kinship, allowing for flexible ties through both maternal and paternal lines.

 

Their religious practices reflect a layered cosmology: while Theravāda Buddhism provides the formal framework for ritual and moral life. These beliefs coexists with animism that is centered on local spirits, ancestral forces, and sacred landscapes. This synthesis maintains a strong continuity with Angkorian-era cosmology, particularly in rituals tied to land, fertility, and protection.

 

Economically, Khmer communities rely largely on wet-rice cultivation, supported by the fertile plains of the region, alongside local crafts that reinforce both subsistence and cultural expression. Linguistically, they retain the Khmer language, distinct from Thai, and culturally they maintain temple traditions, ceremonial practices, and seasonal rituals that echo their deep historical connections to the Angkorian world.

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Kuy

The Kuy represent one of the older Austroasiatic populations of the region, often regarded as pre-Tai inhabitants whose presence predates the rise of both Khmer and Tai dominance in mainland Southeast Asia. Kuy society is similarly village-based, yet historically distinguished by specialized knowledge and skills that set them apart within regional networks.

 

Most notably, they were renowned as expert elephant catchers and trainers, a role that held both economic and symbolic importance. This specialization is closely tied to their religious worldview, which is rooted in animism and characterized by a profound reverence for spirits—particularly those associated with elephants. Elephant spirits occupy a central place in Kuy cosmology, and rituals surrounding them reflect a deep, reciprocal relationship between humans, animals, and the spiritual realm.

 

In contemporary times, while many Kuy have transitioned to wet-rice agriculture as their primary economic activity, elements of their traditional expertise and ritual knowledge continue to persist. Their cultural heritage includes not only these elephant-centered practices but also a distinct language belonging to the Mon-Khmer family, further underscoring their long-standing presence in the region.​