The Sailing of Junks in Nan River and Chinese Letters Appeared in Chao Mae Tuptim Shrine, Ban Wang Somsa Chinese Community Mueang District, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

The research titled “The sailing of junks in Nan River and Chinese letters appeared in Chao Mae Tuptim shrine, Ban Wang Somsa Chinese Community, Mueang district, Phitsanulok province” was conducted on the basis of qualitative research design, which aimed to study the junk sailing in Nan River tradition of Ban Wang Somsa Chinese Community and to study Chinese letters appeared in Chao Mae Tuptim shrine, Ban Wang Somsa, Mueang district, Phitsanulok province. The data on ritual arrangements was collected by a participant observation. In addition, the study investigated the data about Chao Mae Tuptim shrine and the details of the ritual as well as the participation of the Chinese Hainan community by in-depth interviews from 9 key informants.

The findings revealed that the junk sailing in Nan River tradition of Thais of Chinese descent is a tradition passed on from generation to generation more than 190 years. It started from Hainanese ancestors migrating from China to settle down in the area. Chao Mae Tuptim shrine was built to be a spirit anchor for Chinese and Thai people. Some villagers vow and pray at the shrine. In the past, the shrine was used to be a center for Chinese and Thai people to discuss on trading. As for the architecture of the shrine, there are Chinese drawings and letters on auspicious signs and name signs in Hanzi (traditional) classified into 12 words relating to names of gods, and 19 words related to auspicious words or praises for gods’ kindness. Although most villagers do not exactly know the meaning of the Chinese letters, they still pay respect to and have faith in the shrine since the Chinese letters found in the shrine due to a source of spiritual beliefs passed on from previous generations. Therefore, the junk sailing in Nan River tradition and Chinese architecture found are likely to be the things transferred the Chinese cultures from the past to the present.