An analysis of Xiang Kong existence at Phon Village, Phon Thong Sub-District, Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1. to study the concept of Xiang Kong existence; 2. to study the existence of Xiang Kong at Phon Village, Phon Thong
Sub-district, Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province; 3. to analyze the existence of Xiang Kong at Phon Village, Phon Thong Sub-district, Chiang Yuen District, Maha Sarakham Province. This study was carried out by means of qualitative research by studying the information from the Tipitaka, documents, and related research. There were 28 key informants. The data were interpreted by the descriptive analysis based on the inductive method.
The research results were as follows :
1. Xiang Kong is a belief in ghosts and ancestral spirits in another realm that human beings cannot perceive with their senses, but they can know its existence through the beliefs expressed through rituals to eradicate evil, and this ritual has held the hearts of the Isan people, leading to the peace of society.
2. Phon villagers believe about the Xiang Kong ritual that the Xiang Kong ghost is responsible for communicating with mystical powers by summoning spirits to possess the straw puppets made for the ritual. When villagers feel uneasy, the Xiang Kong ritual is performed to guess the cause and solution, and the villagers also use this ritual to control the behavior of the people in society.
3. Existence of Xiang Kong in Phon Village based on philosophical theories can be proved by ontological reasoning, the cosmological argument, anatomical reasoning, ethical justification, and other justifications. Therefore, it can be concluded and confirmed that Xiang Kong in Phon Village existed as a divine spirit and had the power to give
benefits and harm to human beings.