食物をめぐる人と自然の関わり : 東北タイでの事例から

Abstract

Villagers' acquisition of food materials from the natural environment in a Lao village in Northeast Thailand is examined from the viewpoint of interaction between man and nature. The village is surrounded with exceptionally rich forests, on which villagers depend for a large part of their daily diet besides rice, the staple. Villagers' cooking methods and tastes are well adapted to the natural materials available around the village. The availability is influenced by seasonal factors as well as the micro-level changes of natural conditions. What food materials are taken is also affected by villagers' own schedules. They choose daily food materials from among what are available and from the viewpoint of diet diversification. Hunting-gathering activities are basically for the next meal. Villagers know what food materials are available and plan hunting or gathering based on past experience. These features are generated through villagers' daily interactions with nature. The core idea is that they want to live their lives following the conditions of nature. This idea underlies the rhythm of the villagers' daily life.