ABSTRACT

This thesis is aimed at studying three objectives; they are 1) to study concept of the Shrines of Chinese Gods, Household God, and Dead Person 2) to study Buddhism’s influence to the Ritual Performances in the Shrines of Chinese Gods, Household God, and Dead Person, and 3) to study values of the Shrines of Chinese Gods, Household God, and Dead Person in Muang District, Surin Province. The research methodology is to study from the scriptures of Tipitaka, Commentary, texts, and related academic documents.

The research results are as follows:

1.      The concept of the Shrines of Chinese Gods, Household God, and Dead

Person in Muang District, Surin Province is found in the following aspects. The shrine of Chinese Gods means the lodging place for deity, angel, satyr, and spirit. It is the belief of Chinese people which is influenced to their ways of lives. This belief is similar to the division of levels of deities and spirits in other races.  The shrine of Household Gods means the lodging place of ancestral spirits. It is usually located at houses and civil service places for worshiping. The shrine of dead person means the temporary arrangement for being auspicious thing in lives, members of family, and assets, etc. in the occasion of building a new house or civil service place, for example. 

2.      Buddhism has much influenced to the ritual Performances in the Shrines of

Chinese Gods because Buddhism emphasized on spiritual development through religious ceremonies. Before performing activities, there must be paying respect to the Triple Gem for the purpose of salutation. After the Buddha’s passing away, Buddhism was divided into Mahayana and Hinayana Sects. According to Buddhism, if the Buddhists want to be protected by Devatas, they must be virtuous with precepts. The people of Surin adopted Buddhism from ancestors. Therefore, Buddhism has much influenced to ceremonies in the Shrines of Chinese Gods, and Dead Person as seen in the agricultural fields, swamp, canal, temple, and street.

3.       In terms of their values, the shrine of Chinese Gods is worshiped by

Chinese-Thai people. Chinese people in Thailand deeply have believed in Mahayana Buddhism up to the present time. The values of shrine of Chinese Gods are shown through wisdom, economics, and politics. The value of the shrine of Household God is the tool in life development which can be seen through society, religion, culture, economics, and belief. The value of the shrine of dead person is the protection of agricultural fields and society.