เจ้าพ่อเขาตก: เทพารักษ์ไทยที่กลายเป็นเทพเจ้าจีน

Abstract

This article focuses on the belief in Chaopho Khaotok whom devotees believe, as a Thai guardian angel; he has main duty in safeguard of Buddha’s Footprint of Sara Buri province, Thailand. Chaopho Khaotok receives highly respects from Chinese overseas devotees in Thailand and later was designated as a Chinese god. ‘Gantian Dadi’ (感天大帝) and ‘Nantianmen Laobogong’ (南天门老伯公) in Chinese characters are visible evidences appearing at the shrine gate. The study shows ‘Gantian Dadi’ is a title of some gods. This belief has been existed among Chinese people in several sub-cultural groups. But a myth in Teochew region of Guangdong province about a mountain god who was appointed to the title by Emperor Zhao Bing (1272-1279 A.D.) of Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.) and the further study about ‘Nantianmen Laobogong’ indicates that Chaopho Khaotok has been influenced by the concept of Chinese land god, especially Teochew-speaking Chinese overseas.