Traditional Phetchaburi-Styled Crematorium Construction and Visitors’ Perceptions : A Case Study of a Cremation Ceremony of Phra Thep Suwan Moli (Khlaew Uttamo), Wat Yai Suwannaram, Phetchaburi

Abstract

         The objectives of this research were 1) to study the knowledge of building a Muang Petch crematorium of Wat Yai Suwannaram in the cremation ceremony of Phra Thep Suwan Moli (Khlaew Uttamo) and 2) to survey people's opinions on the crematorium of Wat Yai Suwannaram in the cremation ceremony of Phra Thep Suwan Moli (Khlaew Uttamo). Data were collected and analyzed from documents, interviews, and questionnaires from 330 people who attended or visited the crematorium. The instrument used to collect data was a survey with a confidence value of 0.97. The statistics used in the data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation.

           The results showed that 1) the construction of the crematorium of Wat Yai Suwannaram at the cremation ceremony of Phra Thep Suwan Moli (Khlaew Uttamo) was carried out by Phrakhru Watchara Suwannathorn (Lukchub Thammachoto), the abbot of Wat Yai Suwannaram to show gratitude dedicate merit and honor Phra Thep Suwan Moli (Khlaew Uttamo) who devoted himself to Buddhism and society. The form of the crematorium is a traditional crematorium (5 peaks) which took 1 year to build and the base of the crematorium was decorated with stucco work by Muang Phet artisans which displayed a characteristic of Himmapan forest. 2) A survey of 330 people, who attended and visited the event, was found that most of them were female accounted for 57.0% and males 43.0% who were in the age range 31-40 years which is 29.4%. People engaged in general occupation has the most percentage of 47.3%. The purpose of the event was to attend the event, 68.2%. People who were satisfied and saw the value of the Muang Petch crematorium has the highest mean of 4.74. People who recognized the value of the Muang Petch crematorium preservation has the highest mean of 4.73. The impression of decorating the crematorium has the highest average of 4.66 followed by paintings, flowers, shapes and jab of the crematorium with an average of 4.58 – 4.52, respectively. Most of the respondents were impressed and should help preserving and inheriting the Muang Petch crematorium.