タイにおける稲作慣行農法と犁の調査 :犁耕技術の展開過程とも関連させて

Abstract

The present article is composed of the following three parts. (1) A summary of research on traditional paddy cultivation methods in northern Thailand. Geomorphologically, northern Thailand is divided into five units : 1. mountain slopes, 2. narrow river valley plains, 3. basins, 4. transitional zones from mountain to plain, and 5. central plain area. I selected a village in each of these geomorphological units and describe in detail the paddy cultivation methods observed in each village in chapters I through VI. (2) A report of research on agricultural implements, especially indigenous plows. The research was conducted in 11 villages, including villages located in the upper delta of the Chao Phraya River and the above sample villages. I classified the plows observed in these villages into the following three types : 1. square plow type, 2. Indian plow type, and 3. mixed plow type of Indian and crook plows. The results are given in chapter VII. (3) A discussion of the origin of plow culture in Thailand, based on archaeological remains held in Lop Buri Museum. The museum identifies objects excavated in U-Thong as spear points from the seventh to eighth century A. D. However, I cannot agree with this explanation. Based on similar archaeological remains found in north India and plow share in use in the same area, I identified them as plow shares and presented a new interpretation on the origin of the plow in Thailand, namely that an Indian type of plow was already used in the seventh to eighth century. Detailed discussion is given in chapter VIII.