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Festivals and Rituals of Chinese Shrines in Samutsongkhram Province
Journal
University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Journal
Publisher(s)
Chulalongkorn University Printing House
University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
Date Issued
2009
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Journal Editorial Office
Abstract
This article is part of an ongoing qualitative research on “The Continuity and Changesof Activities at Chinese Shrines in Samutsongkhram Province.” The objective is todescribe important festivals and rituals held at Chinese Shrines in SamutsongkhramProvince as well as the close social bonds among the Chinese community holdingand conducting these activities. The findings reveal that the following eight festivalsare held annually at Chinese Shrines in Samutsongkhram: Chinese Autumn Festival,Lantern Festival, End-of-the-Year God’s Thanks-Giving Day, Birth Celebration ofShrines’ Chief Gods, Shrine Construction Day Celebration, Vegetarian Festival, andCommemoration of the Death Date of Shrines’ Chief Gods. As for the importantrituals, they are Chanting Rituals conducted by Chinese or Vietnamese Buddhist monks and Feeding-the-Lonely-and-Hungry-Ghosts Rituals. The latter ritual aims toachieve merit for people’s dead relatives and strayed ghosts, and to donatenecessities to the poor. One of the important rituals held during the VegetarianFestival is the daily chant carried on during the first nine days of the ninth lunarmonth of the Chinese calendar. Besides the daily chant, there is Divine PrescriptionReading. Every night during the Vegetarian Festival there will be chanting as well asthe ritual of passing lighted joss sticks clockwise round a venerable person. Otherrituals conducted during the Vegetarian Festival are the Exorcising Ritual, which isbelieved to change one’s bad fortune through a ritual, Floating Ritual, and AscendingChief Gods Back to Heaven Ritual. The close bonds among the Chinese during theChinese Autumn Festival and Vegetarian Festival can be seen in various aspects, suchas preparation before the festivals and donations made to the shrines. These activitiesobserved at the shrines clearly reflect a positive social interaction among the Chinesecommunity members.
ISSN
0125-2437
Access Rights
public
Rights
This work is protected by copyright. Reproduction or distribution of the work in any format is prohibited without written permission of the copyright owner.
Rights Holder(s)
University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce
Bibliographic Citation
Ruenkaew Pattranupravat (2009) Festivals and Rituals of Chinese Shrines in Samutsongkhram Province. University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Journal Vol.29 No.3.
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