Sapao: Buddhist Doctrine, Value, Identity and Conservation

Abstract

The research entitled “Lanna Sapao: Morality, Value, Identity and Conservation” aimed as the following objectives: 1) to study the history and beliefs of the Lanna Sapao tradition, 2) to study the rituals and morality that appear in the Lanna Sapao tradition, and 3) to analyze the value and guidelines for promoting cultural identity that appear in the Lanna Sapao tradition. The research method is qualitative research, collecting data in Muang District, Lampang Province. The tools used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and a key informant group of 23 people. The researcher used data obtained from document study, using content analysis, and presented data descriptively, using inductive analysis.

The results of the research found that; 1. Sapao is a part of the Lanna tradition. The popular material used is bamboo, which is assembled into a frame and attached with paper or cloth, resembling a junk. Lanna people like to use it in religious ceremonies, believing in the afterlife to dedicate merit to their deceased ancestors. In another sense, it is believed to be a way of worshiping sacred things and floating away bad luck in life. Therefore, beliefs have a great influence on Lanna people, which is a mechanism of thought that has existed alongside humans since birth until death. Sapao is a combination of the original beliefs of people in Lanna society, mixed with religious beliefs, and can change according to the differences in each environment of society at that time. 2. Rituals and morality that appear in the Lanna Sapao tradition Which has two types of meanings: auspicious and inauspicious. In inauspicious events, it is considered as offering alms to the deceased. The guide leads the offering to the Triple Gem, observes the Five Precepts, and invites the monks to preach the Dharma. After the offering ceremony is complete, it is floated in the river or burned at the cemetery with the cremation ceremony, which is embedded with moral principles. In terms of auspicious events, the characteristics of the offering ceremony do not have the same rituals as in inauspicious events. It is similar to the Loi Krathong tradition. Therefore, floating the Sapao is a cultural activity similar to the Bangkok Loi Krathong. 3. The value and guidelines for promoting the cultural identity of the Sapao by making academic documents for educational institutions, related government agencies, and creating a curriculum for the guide in the Lanna version of the ceremony to prevent its disappearance. In addition, all government agencies have included it in the development plan of Lampang Province under the development strategy. Culture, which includes production activities that rely on creativity as an important factor, based on the use of Knowledge, Education, Creativity and the use of Intellectual property that are integrated with cultural roots. Social knowledge, technology, modern innovation.