This qualitative research on medical wisdom of the Tai Khun focused on the transference and learning processes at Pa Phai Village in Tambon Chor Lae, Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai province.
The medical wisdom of the ethnic group was conducted by folk healers by conducting rituals, massaging, and using medicinal herbs. Traditional transference of knowledge was through internal and external family lineages by the elderly and monks. In addition, new forms of transference were sharing knowledge among folk healers in the community and learning through the process organization by external agencies, such as, academic excursion, training, and a public forum between folk healers and academics.
Individual learning process, learning through ritual participation and group learning were conducted on a gradual approach with the elderly instructing the young that was related to the beliefs in superstition and Buddhism. Servitude to the folk healers was enforced in order to test learners’ patience and intent before they were trained on knowledge and morality via oral and non-oral instructions and from medical formulae in the palm and mulberry paper scripts.