TITLE
Myths of Buddha Image in Thai-Laos Bordering Communities :
Conveying of Cultural Meaning and the Role of Enhancing Social
Relationship
AUTHOR
Miss. Channipha Doungwilai
ADVISORS
Asst. Prof. Dr. Pathom Hongsuwan and
Dr. Umarin Tularak
DEGREE
Ph.D.
MAGOR
Thai
UNIVERSITY
Mahasarakham University
DATE
2013
ABSTRACT
The myths of the Buddha image are the sacred narrations which recount
the background, supernatural powers and the rituals relating to important Buddha
images which reside within the Thai-Laos border communities. Local people pay
respect, have great faith and believe that it is sacred to represent the Lord Buddha.
The Buddha image does not only convey cultural meaning but it also has the role of
enhancing social relationships among Thai-Laos border including creating a Buddhist
cultural network in Southeastern communities.
The aim of the thesis is to analyze the conveying of cultural meaning and the
role of enhancing social relationships in the myths of the Buddha image as presented
in the Thai-Laos border community areas. The data used was classified in 2 categories:
written and narrative information. It was based on folklore and anthropology research
methodology. The principle concepts for this thesis were Mythical Language and
Narrative Concept, the Interpretation of Cultural Concept and Ethnicity Concept.
The researcher found that the myths of the Buddha image in the Thai-Laos
border communities had the role of conveying cultural meaning in 5 areas: 1) The
conveying of cultural meaning regarding fertility, through names, places of origin, the
gesture of the Buddha image, the customs and the worship rituals of the Buddha
image. 2) Conveying meaning through the culture of the King of Laos, through political
security and construction, political mechanism with a sense of solidarity, negotiation,
constructing a new meaning between state and villagers, and the construction of the
Buddha image with the belief of charisma accumulation. 3) Conveyingmeaning through
