Graven Image Making Process and Definition of Kim Sin Idolatry Sculpture in Ritual Areas

Abstract

This article is part of a research on “Kim Sin and Ma Song: Deity and humanity in the Chinese ritual areas of Phuket Province” by studying Kim Sin idolatry on the issues of graven image making process and the definition of idolatry sculpture in the ritual areas of Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Therefore, the researcher collected the field data in the shrine during Phuket Vegetarian Festival by means of in-depth interviews in regard to Kim Sin image sculpture and those devotees involved in performing rituals in the shrine through participatory observation and non-participatory observation within the research areas resulting in the form of descriptive research. The results revealed that 1) Chinese people have traditional beliefs in respecting ancestral spirits that exist in nature becoming an “Ancestral Worship of Spirits Sect” which holds and obeys ancestors ancestors by worshipping Godlike idols, which leads to the making of Kim Sin idolatry to be an image that creates spiritual value, 2) The creation of Kim Sin is a carving technique that deciphers humanity from myths or historical tales that the carver created in accordance with the story, including shapes, proportions, faces as well as the use of symbols corresponding to such God, and 3) Kim Sin creates social phenomena of the Thai Chinese through rituals as in the vegetarian festival that has made Phuket the “Sacred Place” particularly dedicated to performing rituals.