The Heng Jia God at the Southern Border: The Functions of Worship of the Tai Sia Deity at Ban Kamphaeng, Kaluwo Sub-district, Muang District, Narathiwat Province

Abstract

The deity Tai Sia, or Heng Jia (Wukong), a character from the Chinese literary work Journey to the West, is an important deity of the Tai Sia Shrine located in Ban Kamphaeng, Narathiwat Province. Many people respect and worship this deity in various ways, especially Thai-Chinese descendants in the southern border provinces as well as Malaysians. This research article uses the framework of the function of folklore to study the functions of worship to Tai Sia deity at Ban Kamphaeng. The results found two main functions of worship, one toward the individual and the other toward the community. The functions towards the individual can be divided into three sub-functions: to provide emotional support protecting and safeguarding worshippers, to offer hope for success or fulfillment in various undertakings, and to offer advice on life management. The functions towards the community can be divided into four sub- functions: to preserve culture and tradition, to raise strength and solidarity within a multicultural society, to provide entertainment, and to stimulate the local economy and tourism. The results of this study demonstrate the role of belief in worshiping the deity among Thai-Chinese descendants within the multicultural social context of the southern border of Thailand.