Beliefs and rituals in traditional musical instruments of Thailand Jinarak Jitikan, Lecturer Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand Online published on 16 February, 2012. Abstract “Belief on deities/sacred things in Wa i Khru Ceremony of Thai Musical Instruments” has been developed. This reflected to the development of Thai musical instruments showing that the musical instruments have evolved from the original Thai ethnic group or from local source. Thai people in the past might have played the Thai musical instruments before the advent of Brahmin-Hindu and Buddhism, as seen from the belief in spirits, including guardian spirit, field spirit, house spirit, and ancestor spirit or important persons such as spirit of guru already passing away. Subsequently, when Brahmin-Hindu entered into Thailand, the deities were introduced as the highest respected deities, such as Phra Vishnukaam (Visvakarma of India), Phra Panja-Sing-Khon associated with music and song composition, and Phra Pora-khon-Thap which embodies all gurus who construct the musical instruments and compose both melody and songs. Meanwhile, spirits and ancestor spirits still existed but their importance was reduced. When the Buddhism entered into Thailand, it fueled these beliefs again, by accepting the belief in ancestor spirits and these deities. However, it showed that it still involves mundane happiness, not super mundane happiness, which was the highest happiness of the arts and science. The highest target of music was leading the mind to nirvana. In this regard, Buddhism has involved. This was a picture of Thai society's reflection through Thai musical instruments at present. Top Keywords Beliefs, Rituals, Thai Musical Instruments. Top |