Sap Champa Ancient City Merit-Making ชื่อเรียกอื่น : เดือนที่จัดงาน : February , March เวลาทางจันทรคติ : วันขึ้น 1 ค่ำเดือน 4 สถานที่ : Sap Champa Ancient City : Central ภาค / จังหวัด : Loburi ประเภท : festive rites/rites for social auspiciousness ประเพณีที่เกี่ยวข้อง : คำสำคัญ : Sap Champa,City’s merit-making ผู้เขียน : Supitcha Nakkong วันที่เผยแพร่ : 26 Aug 2016 วันที่อัพเดท : 20 Sep 2017

คำอธิบายประเพณี

Sap Champa Ancient City Merit-Making

โดย Supitcha Nakkong | 7 Mar 2016 The Ancient City of Sap Champa was surrounded by one moat and double earthen embankments. Aerial photographs show its winding city plans interconnected in an egg/heart/conch shape. Archeological studies of the site reveal that the prehistoric occupation about 3,300-3,000 years ago was a permanent one. After the settlement, Buddhism intergrated into folk life, which was also influenced by the Indian culture referred to as the Culture. The culture flourished during the 11th-12th centuries. Among the pieces of important evidence unearthed are, for example, ruins of numerous chedi (especially those located in the settlement center), broken parts of Buddha’s stone heads, the Wheel of Dharma with a sitting deer sculpture, octagonal stone pillars with Buddhist inscriptions, and Panatbodi stone sculptures – major pieces of which were found only in Dvaravati cities. (Details are available in Phuthon Phumathon 2558 ko).

The Ancient City is believed to have been a significant trading and spiritual hub due to its strategic location between central and the region.

The City, deserted around the 15th century BCE (Supbharat Teekhakul/2547: 102), became woodlands within the vast Dong Phaya Yen Forests. Nevertheless, the area still served as a communication route connecting the north to the Isan region. No settlements really existed along this route, not until folks from Korat moved in. From 1932, it grew into a large community.

Merit-making ceremony for the Ancient City of Sap Champa: its creation.

In 2004, some Sap Champa residents, well aware of the significance of their fascinating cultural and historical heritage, formed a conservationist group known as “The Censervationist Group of Sap Champa and Pa Champi Sirindhorn.” It was an attempt on their part to conserve, develop, and manage the archeological site of Sap Champa Ancient City and as well as the freshwater peat swamp of the Sirindhorn Champi Forest. One activity the group did was performing a merit-making rite for the Ancient City.

Mr. Netnarin Kamrueangbun, head of the Administrative Organization of Sap Champa (2016) had this information that it was the then director of Tha Luang Wittayakom School, one of the Conservationist Group founders, who initiated the idea of performing a merit-making ceremony for the old city. The objectives would be: 1. to revitalize the sacredness of the ancient historical site; 2. to raise awareness and create pride in their very important cultural heritage; 3. to sustain some ancient religious rites their ancestors had observed, and in so doing, dedicate the merits earned to them; and 4. to foster unity among Sap Champa community members.

The first event was scheduled on March 20-21 of the following year. Not long afterward, Mr. Netnarin said that he had a dream. In the dream a Sap Champa general appeared and informed him that he and the spirits of all other townspeople unfortunately had not received any merits because they had been under a curse of some shamans since the Ayutthaya time. Back in those days, the Ayuthaya troops passed by the deserted Sap Champa on the way to wage wars with some Isan cities (Pimai and Phanom Rung) and the Khmer kingdom. The commotion from the war elephants and horses apparently frightened the town and forest spirits. Some Ayutthaya Shamans therefore needed to curb the bewildered spirits by putting a spell on them. To thwart the old curse, Mr. Netnarin would have to have someone take out a particular object shaped like a twisted shell that had been lying under a condemning stone slab. The thing was to be put by the city stream and undergo a ritual and the magic words “yeah dharma” that would end its spell. Next, 3 pots of cooked rice mixed with salt would be scattered about for the subdued spirits to eat. Continuing communications with those land spirits would be done throughout this time. The spirits also were to be consulted about the date and the merit-making ritual that would bless the whole town. So the renewed tradition, according to Mr. Netnarin, is to be observed in much the same way as what the Sap Champa people used to do in the old days. (Netnarin Kamrueangbun 2016)

The second event took place one year later, in 2016. Some changes certainly were introduced. The ceremony date was moved to the 1st waxing of the 4th month, coinciding with the town’s horoscope. The rite was a conglomeration of Buddhist, Brahmin, and animistic beliefs, following the practice of the Ancient City people.

Mr. Netnarin had more to say that the ritual was supposed to be as close as possible to the old, traditional one, in accordance with the information in his dream. It lasted 2 days. The first day was a Brahmin type of worshipping and inviting the deities and holy spirits residing in the town to come. Day 2 was the merit-making ceremony, which was performed at the site of some ruined chedi in the heart of town.

Participants in the ceremony were local government officers, teachers and students, and the Sap Champa residents. At the venue, they erected a ceremonial tent and a few more to house small exhibitions dedicated to the history and related stories of this historical site and its ancient archeological artefacts that had been excavated.

บรรณานุกรม Netnarin Kamrueangbun. (2015). “History of Sap Champa Community. in Sap Champa: Sap Champa Museum, Province. Phuthorn Phumathon (editor) . Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited, p.p 80-99.

Netnarin Kamrueangbun. (7 March 2016). Interviews. Head of the Tambon Sap Champa Administrative Organization.

Piya Chalermklin. (2015) “Pa Phu Champi Sirindhorn.” In Sap Champa: Sap Champa Museum, Lopburi Province. Phuthorn Phumathon (editor). Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited, p.p 100-117.

Phuthorn Phumathon (1986). Mueang Sap Champa. Saraburi: Pak Phriao Kan Chang Printing.

Phuthorn Phumathon (editor). (2015 ko). Sap Champa: Sap Champa Museum, Lopburi Province. Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited.

Phuthorn Phumathon (2015). “Idols in Buddhism.” in Sap Champa: Sap Champa, Lopburi Province. Phuthorn Phumathon (editor). Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited, p.p. 32-67.

Warissara Saengampornchai (2015). “Sap Champa, Treasures of Knowledge.” (online). Accessed on 23 June 2016, from Thai Museums Database, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (Public Organization). Website:

Supparat Teekhakul. (2004). “Studies on the Settlement Factors of the Sap Champa Ancient Community.” Master’s Thesis (Historic Archeology), Graduate School, Silpakorn University.

Sawang Lertrit. (2004). Complete Research Report on the Development of Economic and Social Complexities from the Late Pre-historic Period to the Early Historic Period in Eastern Highlands of . Bangkok: Faculty of Archeology, Silpakorn University.

Fourth Regional Office of Fine Arts, Lopburi. A Preliminary Report on the Excavation-Assemblage of Sap Champa Archeological Site in Tambon Sap Champa, Tha-Luang, Changwat Lopburi. Lopburi Borannurak LTD.

Suraphon Nathaphinthu. (2015). “Archeology of Sap Champa Area.” in Sap Champa: Sap Champa Museum, Lopburi Province. Phuthorn Phumathon (editor). Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing Public Company Limited, p.p. 12-31.

Arthit Kaeophalnek. (1972). “Prehistoric Pottery at Sap Champa.” Bachelor’s Thesis (Archeology), Faculty of Archeology, Silpakorn University.

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Sap Champa Ancient City Latitude = 15.052797 Longitude = 101.240697

: Rituals, Ceremonies and Local Festivals in Thailand Database