: Features of buddhism in Thailand forbidden rules in the temple

Transcription

1 Topic : Features of buddhism in Thailand forbidden rules in the temple Group members : Chan Hei Yin, Donald Cheung Yat Hin, Tim Hui Chung Hei, Jacky Ko Ching Nga, Mary Law Sze Lam, Roslin Leung Man Chun, Felix Tang Ho Chun, Stephen Wong Hiu Tung, Kassandra Wong Nga Wun, Brenda Class : 5E ( Group 3 ) 1

2 Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Methodology Choice of method Classification of the study target Target Group Questions asked Problem faced and solutions Chapter 3 - Literature Review Forbidden rules in Thailand Importance of forbidden rules Reflections of those forbidden rules from locals and tourists Differences of forbidden rules in temple of Thailand and Hong Kong Chapter 4 - Photographs Analysis General information of the photographs Details of the photographs Chapter 5 - Findings of the interview Conducting interview with tour guide Conducting interview with local students Differences between Thai Buddhist and Hong Kong Buddhist Chapter 6 - Conclusion Chapter 7 - Reflection The first day ( 31 March 2017 ) The second day ( 1 April 2017 ) The third day ( 2 April 2017 ) The fourth day ( 3 April 2017 ) The fifth day ( 4 April 2017 ) Chapter 8 - Bibliography

3 Chapter 1 Introduction Thank you King Ling College, we got a precious opportunity to travel to Bangkok with our classmates. Other than building our collective memories, we also had a in-depth discovery of Bangkok Undoubtedly, all countries would show the best to tourist most of the time. Nothing comes of nothing. We devote to explore more about the features of Buddhism in Thailand. We would like to further explore the forbidden rules in temples. We would investigate the culture of Thailand by the following questions Do you believe in Buddhism, how often do you go to Buddhist temples, do you know the forbidden rules in Buddhist temples. We would also investigate about the importance of the forbidden rules in temples. 3

4 Chapter 2 Methodology 2.1 Choice of method We have picked three methods in quantities, including photograph analysis, interviews and literature review. 2.2 Classification of the study target As a cosmopolitan city, there are many people from sorts of places in the world live in Hong Kong and created an exclusive culture which is unable to be copied. This leads to the different worship that Buddhism in Thailand have an irreplaceable and majestic status which were different to Hong Kong, tolerant and diversity. We were attracted by those habits brought by their worship that we had never heard before. So we are going to find more about those taboos and their feeling to these limitations. 2.3 Target Group The target group of this project are people around us as some of them believe in their own faith. In addition, our Thai buddies and our tour guide of the 5-day trip, are also our targets. As local citizens, they must know more than us as they have true experience of living in a country which religion plays a large role. 2.4 Questions asked 1.Do you believe in Buddhism? 2.How often do you go to Buddhist temples? 3.Do you know the forbidden rules in Buddhist temples? Can you name some? 4.Do you follow the forbidden rules whenever you enter the temple? 5.Do you think those forbidden rules are important? Why? 6.Do you think those forbidden rules should be spread to other countries? 4

5 2.5 Problem faced and solutions We have some difficulties on literature review and interview. We cannot read and have any ideas from the notices found in temples due to the barrier of language (none of them written in English). It is supposed that we have lost some information and we can only try to collect as many points as possible from the speech and introduction promoted by tour guide. For interviews, we do not have enough time for it, so it does not make us satisfied. Our buddies are not always free because jet lag and they have their own businesses. Therefore, it is only available for us to interview through WhatsApp and this created a limitation for us that we would not have sufficient interviewers. Luckily, we can have some resources from internet and blogs. 5

6 Chapter 3 Literature Review 3.1 Forbidden rules in Thailand Bangkok (กร งเทพมหานคร) is the capital and largest city of Thailand. Its popularity is due to the cosines and temples. Nearly 95% of Thailand s population is Buddhist, and the country is full of sacred Buddhist temples. In this literature review, the purpose is to find out some forbidden rules in Thailand temples. From an article entitled Temple Etiquette in Thailand, there are several examples showing what visitors should do or should not do in the temples, including: Do --Dress appropriately --Take off the shoes --Use right hands -- respect all Buddha images Don t --don t touch a thai person head or ruffle their hair --don t shout and say loudly in temple --don t show disrespect towards the Thai family 3.2 Importance of forbidden rules According to the book "CultureShock! Thailand: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette" written by Robert Coope,"...simply odd, or, at worst, rude, inappropriate behavior in any religious context will not be easily forgiven, and deliberate or unintended insult to what the Thais consider sacred could land you in real trouble." Behaviors like taking photos in where it is forbidden, or showing too much skin,are kinds of ignorance of polite and courtesy.tourists who did them are violating the laws and may be sued. From the above source, Thais can said to have superstition and they extremely obey the rules in temples which they think breaking the rules is kind of rudeness to their 6

7 god and there may be retribution as a result. It may be the reasons behind making the Thai temple strict. 3.3 Reflections of those forbidden rules from locals and tourists As mentioned above, approximately 95% of Thailand population is Buddhist. The majority of Thailand citizens go to visit temples in some specific festivals. They really respect and obey the forbidden rules of the temples. Not only it is a traditions from their ancestor, but also they regard that following the forbidden rules can show their loyalties towards Buddhism which it is believed that these behaviors and belief can bring them fortune in different aspects. For the tourists, they believe that it is kind of respect to follow these forbidden rules and they think that the rules in Thailand is quite strict and different from other countries. According to the article Buddhist visits : FAQs, the tourists have lots of questions about the rules in the temples and even the monks in the temple have their own rules. 3.4 Differences of forbidden rules in temple of Thailand and Hong Kong According to the article Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong, although there is no special dress code inside the temple, flash photography and video recording is not allowed. What is more, In Myanmar or other countries, you often need to take off your shoes before you go into the compound, at the main gate. You normally leave your footwear on a rack too. If you don t follow those instruction, you are properly not respecting their religion. However.In Hong Kong and China, you will not need to remove your shoes at any point in either Buddhist or Taoist temples. There is lack of rule and regulation in the temple of Hong Kong. It apparently shows the difference between the temples in Thailand and other countries. The rules in Hong Kong are relatively loose and seem not containing any hidden meanings but just to avoid troubles. While Thailand have paid much attention on the Buddhism and temple, they have already been worshipped them since the past, It also shows the value difference on the Buddhism between Hong Kong and Thailand. 7

8 Chapter 4 Photographs Analysis 4.1 General information of the photographs Photographs were taken at different temples in Bangkok and Ayuthaya. Through the following photos, it can reflect the forbidden rules in the temple. 4.2 Details of the photographs Wat Yat Chai Monkol Fig In Ayutthaya, there are a lot of temples of Buddhism. Fig is taken in the Wat Yai Chai Monkol, which is one of the famous Buddhist temples in Ayuthaya. This photo indicates that visitors of the temple are mostly required to kneel down in order to show the respect towards the Buddhist 8

9 image in the temple. What is more, they cannot point to the image or say loudly inside the temple as all of then are regarded as a kind of disrespect. Bangpa-in Summer Palace Fig Fig is taken in the temple with Chinese culture feature in Bangpa-in Summer Palace in Ayuthaya. In Fig , our classmates are taking off their shoes before go in to the temple. Actually, for most of the temples in Thailand, people are required to take off their shoes before go into temples. 9

10 Wat Mahathat Fig Fig was taken in Wat Mahathat in Ayuthaya. There is a head of the Buddha which the tree trunk and roots grows around it. The billboard shown in the photo states that people should not stand over the Buddha s head if they want to take a photo with the Buddha. This rule aims to pay respect to the Buddha. 10

11 Fig Fig was taken in Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya. All visitors are necessary to wear appropriate clothes and costumes before entering the temples. From the pictures, it shows that our classmates wear long trousers to suit the requirements of the temples. Once we wear short trousers, it is necessary for us to cover our leg with fabrics. The rules in Thailand about the uniform is really strict. 11

12 Chapter 5 Findings of the interview Our group mates have interviewed the tour guide and some Thai local students. 5.1 Conducting interview with tour guide The local guide told us that most Thai believe in Buddhism, around 96% of them do. Also, they usually visit Thai temples several times a year, most likely 3-5 times. They will follow the etiquette and taboos of visiting Thai temples, such as taking off their shoes, wearing clothes with sleeves and long trousers, etc. They are superstitious as well, they think that people will do good to them if they do good to others. This may also be the reason why Thai people are very kind and friendly. 5.2 Conducting interview with local students Most of the students in Thailand believe in Buddhism. They told us that they will go to Thai temples in the important days, Magha Puja day, Visakha Puja day, Asalha Puja day, to name but a few. However, their grandparents would go to Thai temples every weekend in the past. Although they visit Thai temples fewer than their grandparents do, they said that their faith is as deep as their grandparents. Besides, they actually know well about the taboos in temples, they could name out a lot during the interview, for instance, they are not allowed to touch the monk, not allowed to wear shoes, give the customary Thai salute, not allowed to step on the doorsill, do not wear shorts, etc. 5.3 Differences between Thai Buddhist and Hong Kong Buddhist In fact, Hong Kong does not have many taboos when comparing to Thailand. When visiting Thai temples in Hong Kong, there are not many forbidden rules like those in Thailand, at least not that kind of detailed and strict. Also, the number of Buddhist in Hong Kong is much fewer than in Thailand, there are 96% of Thai who are Buddhist. 12

13 Chapter 6 Conclusion After the project, we discover the forbidden rules in the temples. For example, we should dress appropriately, take off the shoes, use right hand and respect all Buddha images. At the same time, we should not touch a Thai head, shout and say loudly in temples. Besides, we understand more about the importance of the forbidden rules in temples. What is more, there are great differences of forbidden rules between Thailand and Hong Kong. For example, Hong Kong does not have any special dress code inside the temples. But at the same time, we need to take off our shoes before going into the temples in Thailand. After the tour, we learn beyond classrooms by having interviews with the people in Thailand. We also gain much knowledge in the culture of Thailand, like the forbidden rules of temples, Buddhism and so on. This was a great experience for all of us. 13

14 Chapter 7 Reflection 7.1 The first day ( 31 March 2017 ) Arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, we feel the scorching hot of Bangkok with dazzling sun light. The first spot of the tour was Grand Palace, which is the most famous landmark in Bangkok. The resplendent buildings and temples really catch our eyes. Afterwards, we walked to the Wat Pho near the Grand Palace, which is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. In the night time, we went to the Asiatique the Riverfront with various local small-scale shops. After visiting different temples in the first day, we are impressed by the amazing architecture with various exquisite sculptures. In Hong Kong such a cosmopolitan city, skyscrapers are all around the city. The buildings with amazing sculptures are no longer be seen. The buildings are more aiming at business uses instead of art and appreciation. Besides, during the day, we had a better understanding on Thai culture especially about the forbidden rules in temple. We are appealing to the local small-scale shops in Asiatique the Riverfront. Actually, in Hong Kong, chain stores are replacing the traditional local shops. It is shame that the local shops in Hong Kong are declining, unlike Thailand. Some large entrepreneur dominating the market and we often can see many well-known brands retailer stores everywhere. We appreciate more on the local shops instead of chain stores because they can show the culture of a city. 14

15 Grand Palace, Bangkok Wat Pho, Bangkok 15

16 7.2 The second day ( 1 April 2017 ) On a regular hot day in Thailand, we headed to Ayuthaya, a place filled with magnificent palaces and temples. At that place, we went to Bangpa-in Summer Palace, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Yai Chai Monkol, right after our breakfast at the hotel. In all those temples and palaces, there were numerous Buddha statues for the local to worship. And of course, we showed our respect towards them as we followed the traditions of the local people, like taking off our shoes when we visited the temples. In addition, we sat down to take photos so as to show our respect further. After that, we went to a large-scale park, Dusit Zoo, to meet some animals. During our visit, we have observed various animals on the zoo. Examples include elephants, cheetahs and king cobras, you name it. Moreover, we also observed Asian tapir, one of the most extraordinary creatures in the world. During the visit, we took photos and we talked a lot about how amazing those animals were. However, we kept in mind that we should not feed the animals as such behaviors may destroy the balanced diet of the animals. After the visit of the Dusit Zoo, we all agreed that the animals of the zoo can always amaze us, no matter how many times we visit them. Although some of us may not be very interested in animals, we all had a great time in the zoo as we all spent a lot of time together, chatting and admiring the wildlife. 16

17 Bangpa- in Summer Palace, Ayutthaya Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya 17

18 7.3 The third day ( 2 April 2017 ) The third day was a relaxing day when we could relax in the theme park, named Siam Park City. The Siam Park City is a large theme park which consists of five sections: Water Park, X-Zone, Family World, Fantasy World and Small World. In spite of the fact that we could not go to the Water Park, we still had a great time there. There are a lot of relaxing games in the Family World. Like Si-Am Tower, a place where people can have spectate the spectacular view of the theme park. Besides, in the X-Zone, there are games which can make one freaks out completely. Examples include Enterprise, a ride which one spins upwards with incredibly high speed and Giant Drop, a ride that makes one feels weightless when one drops, they are games which can certainly test your courage. In the Siam Park City, we surely played a lot of thrilling games for the sake of excitement. Meet the Giant Drop, a game which players fall from 75-meter high to the ground, definitely a breathtaking game. We all tried our best to encounter this challenge, but we ended up screaming loudly when we played it. Another game that is worth mentioning is the Big Double Shock in the Family World. It is actually a haunted house game, but it was not really scary. Therefore, the boys all decided to help scare others to make things more interesting. Overall, it was a frightening, yet interesting experience. 18

19 Siam Park City, Bangkok 19

20 7.4 The fourth day ( 3 April 2017 ) Regarding our forth-day trip, we are delighted that we went to Baan Kru Thani for experiencing one-day farmer. It is a quite famous farm which breed the traditional Thai grain.unlike the former schedule, we have the chance to really become a farmer, including transplanting the rice seedling, riding a buffalo, or cook with the local utensils, to name but a few. We have divided into three groups to experience different activities like drive with the locally-made car. Then, we tried to drive a boat and make a desert afterwards. Lastly, we enjoy lunch that we cooked ourselves. We have gone to the well-known MBK Shopping Mall afterwards. It is an enormous shopping mall provided with diverse range of food stalls and fashion gadgets. Many souvenir stores are also available here for visitors like us to consume. We have bought some unique clothing for souvenir. We all agree that the forth day seem to be most appealing day among the tour since this day allowed us really take into the shoes of the local farmer. We experienced all activities by our own hands, which we found it very challenging but meanwhile utterly meaningful. For flowers like us which incubated in the big cosmopolitan city, we encountered different conundrums of being a farmer, especially that day was scorching hot. Although it is raining fire, we are still amazed by the hard-work done everyday by the local farmers. We were exhausted being a one-day farmer while the local farmers have the routine same everyday. Thinking of this point, we achieve the same consensus with like-minded that we should not waste any rice anymore. Even it is the toughest schedule of all-time, it is worth trying. 20

21 Baan Kru Thani 21

22 7.5 The fifth day ( 4 April 2017 ) Our class engaged the exchange programme with the local Secondary school Satit Bangna School. After attending the brief introduction and funny opening by the teacher there, we introduced ourselves to the buddy around us. With a preliminary understanding to each other, then we worked in two teams to conduct different activities. Our group first attended the cooking section, the cuisine we made is relatively easy which required us to mix all the ingredients in a bowl and crush it well. Counter-intuitively, it was quite juicy and delicious which is a good dish for appetizer. After that, we danced with the local traditional clothing and learnt playing the Thai drum. With the help of local students, we all enjoyed the activities very well. It was the last activity we had before the end of our journey, at the meantime, it is the first time we can directly communicate with local students so we are very pleased to make friends with them. Actually, it was their summer holiday while we visited the school which means they all came back during their leisure time, still, they appeared to be convivial and exuberant infallibly. We found the students there really gregarious and affable. Despite we come from different countries, it is amazing that we could easily find common characteristics from each other and make friends easily. It is inspirational that they were really talkable which lead us and teach us many things like how to say some simple words in Thai or the technique baking the dishes, and the like. Till now, we can still remember firmly that their school had 7 maxims they would like students bear in mind such as think win-win or sharpen the saw. They consistently want students there aimed to be a leader and lead others to the goal that they made some wordings in the stairs. It is something different from our schools and also something we would appreciate and learn from them. 22

23 Satit Bangna School, Bangkok 23

24 Chapter 8 Bibliography 1. Temple Etiqutette in Thailand ( 2011 ), Thai Language Blog blogs.transparent.com/thai/temple-etiquette/ 2. 泰国佛教禁忌知多少?( 2011 ), 新沪江泰語網 p186100/?source=pc 3. 參拜泰國佛寺有哪些禁忌? ( 2016 ), 泰好網 article/ 踏 入泰國佛寺不得不說的注意事項!( 2016 ), 壹讀 epp30k.html 24