Study of the Tradition of Throwing Baskets of Chinese Buddhists; A Case Study of the Chinese Shrine, Chang Moi Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiangmai Province

Abstract

The research contains 3 objectives : 1)  study of Throwing Basket tradition among Chinese Buddhists in Thailand, 2) study the Throwing Basket tradition of the Buddhists Chinese shrines, Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province, and 3) guidelines of preserving the value of Throwing Basket traditions of Chinese Buddhists, it was qualitative research and field work, data collection was conducted with target groups, In-depth Interview, after that, the content was analyzed and a descriptive lecture was written.

From the study, it was found that Throwing Basket tradition of Chinese Buddhists in Thailand is one of the Chinese ceremonial traditions of Chinese people, known as Phudou or Zi Kou. It means giving alms to the souls without relatives. Chinese people believe that during the 7th month of China is the period when the Hell’s Gate is open, it is suitable for making merit for the spirits without relatives. But at the same time, the traditional belongings in the baskets did not fall solely on the spirits if they belonged to the poor who waited to receive alms. The Throwing Basket tradition of Chinese Shrines, Chang Moi Subdistrict, Mueang District, ChiangMai Province showed that it is an offering to sacred spirit, ancestors, gods, Sambvesi, and demons gathering in the ceremony, there will be floating krathongs, birds, fish releasing and performing Chinese religious ceremonies at Chinese Shrines. In performing the ceremony, the ceremonial region and the place of worship must be divided into 3 parts: The first altar is enshrined the offerings of the Triple Gems, the Buddha as the president, Bodhisattvas and Dharmapala. The second place is the worship of the Great Bodhisattva called Tai Su Ie popularly made a picture of the Great Bodhisattva with very large paper, some as high as a three-storey building. The Great Bodhisattva or Tai Su Ie is Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and the third part that worships the deceased spirits, it is a place of worship for the souls of the deceased. Both with relatives and without relatives whose children, relatives or the general public come to lay offerings to pay homage. Values and guidelines for preserving the Throwing Basket tradition of Chinese Buddhists showed that Chinese Buddhists still worship God on Chinese Buddha Day both at shrines and at home. Paying respects to ancestors on important festivals, telling the history of the family and the importance of worshiping and performing various rituals, teaching children to know their Chinese and the value of preserving the traditions and rituals according to the festivals practiced by ancestors are all activities Chinese Buddhists have done. The important thing is that Chinese shrines have arranged Throwing Basket tradition and publicize continuously and regularly.