Thailand, like much of Southeast Asia, is a predominately Buddhist country. Buddhism came and strengthened throughout the centuries, competing and merging with both animism and Hinduism. As a result, the Buddhism that is practiced today is a combination of a variety of beliefs and practices.
The people who lived in this region before the introduction of Buddhism participated in animistic spirituality, involving ancestral spirits as well as spirits of the land and elements. Today, the melding of those beliefs with Buddhism are still highly visible.
Spirit Houses and Spirit Worship
Most houses, as well as business and even some fields, have what is called a spirit house. These are the little houses that you see on elevated pedestals outside of a building. Often they have food and drink offerings along with incense and flowers. These are to give the spirits of the land a place to live and to honor them and thank them for allowing the use of the land for whatever it is being used for. Sometimes, you will see some that are bigger and contain icons and images of the Buddha and they are meant to cover a larger area, such as the whole village.
Another aspect of animism that continues today is the tying of fabric around trees or in locations that a spirit is believed to reside, usually old trees. The belief in ghosts, both ancestral and more generally, is also a hold over from animism.
Festivals and Performances with Buddhist Influence
A number of festivals in Thailand also have their roots in animism, like the Loi Krathong festival in November, the Bun Bang Fai festivals throughout Isaan and the Phi Ta Khon Festival (which I’ll be attending this weekend). Stay tuned for a more in depth exploration into the folk beliefs in Thailand next month.
The other historical cultural aspect that has left an influence on Thai expression of Buddhism was the presence of Hinduism, mostly in the form of Khmer Hindu temples. However, it is not uncommon to see iconography of Hindu deities around and one of the only forms of performing arts in Thailand is the Rammakhan or Khon, a masked dance and play based on Hindu myths, most specifically Hanuman, the monkey god.
Buddhism was born out of Hinduism in that Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was born and raised in a Hindu environment and was member of the Brahman caste. As a result, the caste system continued in a number of less explicitly stated ways in Buddhism.
Everyday Practice
Buddhism as a religion, I don’t see having much of an effect on Thai people’s daily lives. At school, we have a morning chant that is performed as a part of the assembly. However, bpai tiaos with Thai people will always include a trip to a “famous” (sometimes they really are famous, sometimes not so much) temple in the area to make merit, like when we went to Phra That Phanom. New cars and houses have a yantra or a prayer (like the sak yant tattoos) inscribed on the vehicle or house as a protection. Also, because Buddhism is the state religion some Buddhist holidays are public holidays that we get off from work, with four that are officially recognized as a national observance and many others are observed by Thai people and marked with a visit to the local wat.
The nice thing about Buddhism is that it is rather unassuming and while most Thai people have learned the traditions and actions that are designed to keep it at the forefront of their lives, I don’t feel like it is something that is forced upon me and I very much enjoy taking part in this part of Thai culture.