The Myths of the Buddha's Relics of the Tai People

THE MYTHS OF THE exist. The conflict between Buddhism and indigenous beliefs is reflected in the myth’s BUDDHA’S RELICS OF plot, motif and character behaviour, which is THE TAI PEOPLE: due to the conflicting behaviour of the two REFLECTIONS ON THE completely opposite belief systems in the myths. The acceptance of each offer between RELATIONSHIP the two belief systems is reflected in certain BETWEEN BUDDHISM sets of motifs and character behaviour. The AND INDIGENOUS study of the integration of the two belief 1 systems shows the development of the BELIEFS mythical characters and their behaviour, thus reflecting the religious thoughts and beliefs of Pathom Hongsuwan2 the Tai people. Introduction Abstract The integration of Buddhism and indigenous This article intends to analyze the beliefs has been evident in Thai culture since relationship between Buddhism and the long ago, be it in the form of architecture, indigenous beliefs that are evident in the mural art, customs and rituals as well as Tai myths of the Buddha’s relics. From myths, beliefs and religion. Various forms of the analysis of the characters and their the culture reflect the relationship between symbolic behaviour, we can see that the Buddhism and indigenous beliefs and the religious beliefs of the Tai people were complexity of two religious systems. Thus, it very complex. The relationship between can be seen that the majority of Thai people religious beliefs shown in the myths of the are Buddhist whilst continuing to adhere to Tai people shows various characteristics their indigenous beliefs. and can be categorized into three groups: first, the conflict between Buddhism and Scholars in the field of Thai studies indigenous beliefs; second, the integretion generally agree that the religious system of of indigenous beliefs into Buddhism; and the Tai people is a mixture of indigenous third, the integration of Buddhism into beliefs and Buddhism. Thomas Kirsch indigenous beliefs. The kind of relationship (1977) addressed the complexity of the that occurs in each group is due to the Thai religious system in his article entitled variety of aspects of these beliefs that co- “Complexity in the Thai Religious System: An Interpretation”. He stated that 1 indigenous beliefs have effectively been This article is a part of a Ph.D. thesis entitled, swallowed up by Buddhism, this despite “The Buddha Relics Myths of the Tai Peoples: the difference between Buddhism and Significance and Interaction between Buddhism and Indigenous Beliefs”, at Department of Thai, these once popular beliefs. This is in Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. I would agreement with the view of Charles Keyes like to thank my adviser, Associate Professor Dr. (1987: 35), who observes that despite Siraporn Nathalang for her guidance and her following Buddhism, the Thai people have kindness in supervising my thesis. not dismissed their indigenous beliefs in 2 Lecturer, Department of Thai and Oriental spirits, supernatural forces and charms. Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Thus, even though the Tai people regard Sciences, Mahasarakham University. Buddhism as their main religion, this is Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 10:09:32PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities (Special Issue No.9 2005) not their only religion, as non-Buddhist related to beliefs in sacred and supernatural beliefs are blended into their belief power, as stated by Siraporn Nathalang structure. (2002: 190): Myths, beliefs and rituals are forms of …Myth is a kind of folklore that is cultural evidence used to highlight the regarded as a sacred narrative. Myth characteristic relationship between Buddhism generally refers to God, deities and and indigenous beliefs that have been those possessing supernatural powers preserved throughout time. The myths of and is usually used to explain the the Buddha’s relics illustrate the influence origin of the world and the origins of of Buddhist religious sites upon the our various cultures. Sociologists widespread thoughts and beliefs of the Tai such as Malinowski, Leach and people both inside and outside Thailand. Kluckhohn believe that myth and ritual are interrelated. Myth explains By considering the contents of the Tai our origins and provides the myth of the Buddha’s relics, the author reasoning behind rituals, myth thus found that despite the differing characteristics relates to religious belief, sacred of the indigenous beliefs and Buddhism, things or beliefs in supernatural they can co-exist. Even though the content forces in a given society. Therefore, is generally related to Buddhism, the myth we are able to analyze religious of the Buddha’s relics indicates many beliefs in a society from the content aspects of the stories that are not related to of the myth. Buddhism, such as those concerning spirits, ogres, mythical serpents and local This article then intends to analyse the people. Furthermore, the behaviour inter-relationship between Buddhism and featured in those dramas is also evident in the indigenous beliefs that are reflected in a form of cannibalism, fighting with the the Tai myths of the Buddha’s relics,3 Buddha, the destruction of the Buddha’s particularly motifs and character behavior. stupa and a show of miraculous powers. The analysis of the relationship between These characteristics provoke the question: Buddhism and the indigenous beliefs Why are there traces of non-acceptance reflected in the myth of the Buddha’s relics towards Buddhism present in the myth of will help us see and understand the reasons the Buddha’s relics?. Also, other questions, for the co-existance between different such as What is the myth trying to say and religious beliefs and the characteristics of how are the various beliefs related ? may the relationship between Buddhism and the be raised. If we assume that myth and indigenous beliefs. ritual are a special language that man uses to convey certain messages to future The author used 105 stories of the myth of generations, it can then be stated that myth the Buddha’s relics known amongst the is a form of communication for mankind (G.S. Kirk, 1970: 42, Claude Levi-Strauss, 1969: 210-211) and can portray cultural 3 The information portrayed in the Tai myths of meaning (Roland Barthes, 1996: 3-5). This the Buddha’s relics and applied to the author’s is particularly so for stories relating to analysis and discussion in this article is only religious belief since myths are closely partial and not complete. Further information can be obtained in the author’s full dissertation. 2 Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 10:09:32PM via free access The Myths of the Buddha’s Relics of the Tai People ethnic groups of Thailand, such as the Tai encounters ogres waiting to catch Yai, Tai Lue, Tai Khoen, and the Laos- humans, the ogre thus attempts to Thai in the north, and the Thais of the catch and eat the Buddha. northeast, central and southern regions. - The myth of the Buddha’s relics, The author categorised the relationship Don Tao, between Buddhism and the indigenous (ตํานานพระธาตุดอนเตา-Lampang). beliefs in the myth of the Buddha’ relics Many ogres fight with the Buddha, the into 3 groups: first, conflict between Buddha exerting his miraculous Buddhism and the indigenous beliefs, powers in the form of heavy rain, the second, integration of the indigenous ogres becoming fearful of his power. beliefs into Buddhism, and third, - The myth of the Buddha’s relics, integration of Buddhism into the Doi Yuak, indigenous beliefs. (ตํานานพระธาตุดอยหยวก-Payao). The Buddha encounters the mythical Conflict between Buddhism and serpent known as Phayanaak. The Indigenous beliefs mythical serpent thinks that the Buddha is the mythical bird known The content of certain myths of the as Phayakrut, who is his enemy so Buddha’s relics of the Tai people who are Phayanaak flees into a tunnel. Buddhist reflects signs of conflict between - The myth of the Buddha’s relics, Buddhism and the indigenous beliefs, Bua Bok, showing characteristics of “binary (ตํานานพระธาตุบัวบก-Udon Thani) opposition”, that is the content of the myth The Buddha travels to Kuuwian showing a conflicting relationship between Mountain and fights with the golden the two belief systems. The author will serpent known as Phayasuvannaak show two examples of such an opposing who is the owner of the territory. relationship: first, the Buddha – spirits; and - The myth of the Buddha’s relics, second, acceptance – conflict. Phanom, (ตานานพระธาตํ ุพนม-Nakon Phanom). Conflict between Buddhism and indigenous The Buddha travels to Kampra beliefs arose when a new belief was Mountain on the edge of the indoctrinated into existing beliefs, thus Mekhong River and sights a group there a conflict between characters of ghosts living there. When the representing Buddhism and those in local ghosts see the Buddha they run religion. The myth content refers to the away in fear and flee into the non-acceptance of the local people towards Mekhong River, hiding in the Lii Pii Buddha and thus portrays the Buddha rapids. displaying his almighty power in order to gain acceptance and respect, (such as in the The apparent behaviour in these myths, following examples). regardless of whether catching, fighting or fleeing from the Buddha, shows the - The myth of the Buddha’s relics, resistance towards Buddha and his status as Jom Thong representative of the belief in Buddhism. (ตํานานพระธาตุจอมทอง-Chiang Rung). However, the author found that despite the The Buddha travels to earth to the city resistance shown in the myth and the conflict of Alawii. Upon his visit he between indigenous beliefs and Buddhism, 3 Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 10:09:32PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities (Special Issue No.9 2005) Buddhism was eventually victorious and should they worship between Buddha and accepted by the local people. The concept of the local spirits?” At this point we should conflict later giving way to acceptance can bear in mind that the Tai people believed be found in many Tai myths, such as the that disaster or some form of natural disaster myth of Phayakhankaak telling the story of would strike if they did not pay respect to the reincarnation of Buddha as the local spirits.

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