Studying the Tradition of The Wax Castle Festival for Creative Performances Hom Hoi Phueng

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to study the history and beliefs related to the Wax Castle Procession tradition of Sakon Nakhon Province and 2. to create a performance titled Home Hoy Phueng. This is a qualitative research study conducted through the examination of relevant documents such as books, textbooks, academic papers, research studies and related electronic media. The collected data from these sources is then analyzed through content analysis. The research findings revealed that 1) The history and beliefs associated with the Wax Castle Procession tradition in Sakon Nakhon Province indicate that it is a cultural event organized by local Buddhists during the End of Buddhist Lent. The purpose is to offer wax castles as a form of worship to the Buddha. Additionally, the tradition reflects a belief in the generation of merit and the dedication of that merit to the spirits of deceased ancestors. This tradition is rooted in a syncretic system of beliefs that integrates elements of Buddhism, animism and Brahmanism and 2) The creation of the dance performance “Home Hoy Phueng” was structured according to the principles of dance composition. The choreographic process was guided by core concepts of dance artistry, emphasizing graceful movements, expressive body language and meaningful storytelling that aligned with other performance elements such as music and costumes. The creator designed the performance in six segments (1) Segment 1 depicts the legend of the monkey offering a honeycomb to the Buddha, using the traditional Thet Sangkat (a style of Buddhist sermon chant) as a narrative form (2) Segment 2 presents the purpose behind building the wax castle, with lyrics referencing the diverse ethnic groups in Sakon Nakhon Province (3) Segment 3 portrays local villagers gathering at the temple community to construct the wax castle, with lyrics reflecting the origins and motivations behind this tradition (4) Segment 4 highlights the unique identity of the Phu Thai people of Sakon Nakhon, with lyrics set to the distinctive melody of the Phu Thai musical style (5) Segment 5 features the procession of the wax castles, involving villagers, Phu Thai people and various ethnic communities in Sakon Nakhon. This segment conveys the unity and collective spirit of the province, with lyrics emphasizing solidarity and cooperation and (6) Segment 6 represents a festive celebration, inviting people to visit Sakon Nakhon and showcasing the uniqueness of the Wax Castle Procession tradition. The lyrics are set to the melody Sao Noi Liap Don Sawan