The dissertation entitled “A Critical Study On the Buddhist Ethics as Depicted in the Lanna Kao Humn” consists of 3 objectives as: 1) to study the origin and development of the Lanna Kao Humn, 2) to investigate the nature of the Lanna Kao Humnand its literary genre and 3) to make a critical study the Buddhist ethics as found in the Lanna Kao Humn.

The result revealed that the Lanna Kao Humn has its origin from the Buddhist temple. The Lanna Buddhist monks had interested and learnt until achieved the intimate knowledge, especially language and literature. After Lanna gained her independence from Burma, the Lanna Kao Humn had been developed and well-known in the royal palace. It has been very popular, since the Hong Pha Kham were composed by Phraya Lomavisai of Lampang Royal Palace. He also composed the Lanna Khao Saw entitled ‘Chao Suwat Nang Bua Khum’ as the second work. However, the essence of Lanna Kao Saw customarily derived from the Jātaka: the previous life of the Buddha.  Later, it was developed to be Kao Tham: the Buddhist Dhamma Poem, Kao Chaior Love Letter, Kao Joy or Love Poem and Kao Hunm or a kind of Lanna poem. Because the language was easy to understand and its content was relevant to the lifestyles of Lanna people, thus it made these literary works popular with all social classes. Finally, the publishing of Kao poem have made and sole with the Lanna and Thai alphabets.

The Kao Humn is a kind of Lanna poem which developed from the Koa Saw. The nature of Kao Hunm is the narrative of various stories occurring in the country viz., On the flood, Grandfather teaching grandson and biography of the well-known Buddhist monks. After the Kao Hunm has been recognized by the local media, people have used it as the news materials for each other. In addition, the Kao Humn was divided its category as: the Kao Humn on teachings and on situations that occurred in the country. The structure and reading diagram Kao Humn has been developed for achieving the aesthetic sensitivity of language. The Kao Humn has long been popular in the Lanna region, later it was recognized by the government and private sectors. They hold the competition of composing Kao Humn and it made the development of writing on the palm leaf to print in a book form. In addition, it was informed to the Lanna society for the past to present with both media: radio broadcast and newspapers.

The principle of Buddhist ethics that appeared in the Kao Humn is that: they were the doctrines of living harmoniously. To live by the doctrines of Buddhism in order to gain the highest fruition, it is to live with the happiness in life and able to behave oneself in society in line with the principle of Buddhist ethics that taught by the Buddha. A person can understand the teachings through the Lanna Kao Humn. The principle of Buddhist ethics that found in the Lanna Kao Humn, it can be defined as the basic ethical level viz., Pañca-sīla or the Five Precepts, Disā or directions. The intermediate ethical level viz., Kusala-kammapatha: wholesome course of action and the advanced ethical level is the Ariyamagga or the Noble Eightfold Path. Beside these, it was found the others teachings as Kataññữ or gratefulness, the Law of Kamma, Brahmavihāra:  sublime states of mind, Nīvaraṇa: hindrances and Apāyamukha: cause of ruin. The Buddhist ethics as above mentioned have been brought for developing people’s mind through the mass media such as radio broadcast and newspapers.

                 The Buddhist ethics in the Lanna Kao Humn have thoroughly reflected Buddhism as: 1) understanding the nature of oneself by practicing the Five Precepts and living harmoniously in society, 2) understanding the nature of universe by repaying gratefulness to environment and society, 3) understanding the aim of life by developing the Kusala-kammapatha: wholesome course of action in order to achieve the progress of the work and freedom and 4) understanding the path leading to freedom of Buddhism by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path. These are the indicator of the flourishing of Buddhist ethics in this region. The Lanna social context that is conducted by the Kao Humn literature, it is like the lifeblood of Lanna culture and being as the A powerhouse of Lanna wisdom that gained from it to this day.

Download