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Mon's
funeral
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 Many
of Mon lives across all over Thailand, but most of Mon who is very
stick on their traditional culture lives in Samudsakhon. "Mon people"
are very good Buddhist so if a high level Buddhist monk has pass
away his funeral will be significant for all Mon people. Especially
for a very good monk his pupil will build a 9 level pagoda as dedication.
Such one of the monk who had got 9 level of tower was Pra Ajhan
from Bangpla, Samudsakhon, one of Khommalounf Chompon respected
monk.
The
level of the tower is depending on how good of that monk because
of the cost of building. Also a good craftsman is very hard to find
and seem to declining down during this century. The tower is made
from wood or paper and it usually built at the same with coffin.
This source of culture is very similar to Chinese where they burn
gold paper for they ancient that has pass away. But in Mon culture
they do not prefer to burn the tower due to its cost and it made
from a very good timber.
The
reason of building this tower is to separate aseptic mind monk who
should not burn together with normal people whose mine still not
as pure as monk. Also they not prefer to burn monk with bare hand
they usually use mouse to smash to tower to catch fire. However
this method of burning is not favored anymore. Because if the mouse
smash could caused the corpse fall out of the coffin. But just to
keep this traditional the running mouse is use for competition and
fun instead where the mouse owner will receive an award.
In Burma of the cremation
of Mon people still burn the tower but don't have running mouse
anymore. Because the government would not allow anyone to own any
explosives so they cannot be arranged it without the explosive matter.
The ceremony
of Mon fighting for corpse it was first held at Autama monk's temple
at Songklaburi, Kanjanaburi. It was the ceremony about the monk
who went to find craftsman in Burma to build temple but he had been
shot. During his funeral this monk it got Mon drama show following
by Mon fighting for corpse. Where the village people will be dressed
up in both soldiers to carry the coffin and fight for it.
Another background of this ceremony
has been told when the King Thumma jede of Mon carried out his stepmother
funeral. He divided soldiers into two side to fight for his mother
corpse he also joined the event as well to show how they thinking
of her. So Mon people have carried out this ceremony until now.
Corpse swing ceremony has carried out
while corpse burning is held; this ceremony is only for Buddhists
monk. It usually carried out on the evening time, where corpse has
carry around the tower that going to burn for 3 rounds. Then put
the death body on top of the funeral pyre following by Khon drama
at the front of the coffin. Then the audience of this ceremony will
offer necessary to Buddhist monk. They made one fake burning and
real burning which will carried out at 22.00 p.m. Then they used
the robe to attach the coffin for the relative to hold and swing
the coffin while singing a song too.
After the burning part had finished
the bone of death body will be collect then the tower that cost
about several hundreds thousand bath now will be burn. Mon's Monk
has been said in their native language as that the swing ceremony
means to thank to the death person as he might used to swing us
when we was kid. Also Mon people believe that it would help to liberate
the pure spirit to heaven. This ceremony has created significant
merit of all.
Mon
people preferred to join cremation ceremony than Katin offering
for monk. One evident about this believes which has been record
about Mon ceremony. Mentioned about burning ceremony as that:
1. Person crated a beautiful coffin will deserved the merit for
1000 years of life time
2. Person who invited Buddha monk to this ceremony will deserved
merit for 2000 years of life time
3. If one got chance to burn Buddha will deserve infinite merit
and will reborn in haven without suffering, monster The merit of
burning corpse will lead them to lift reforming in the haven. Some
people believe that it just a trick to influence people to make
a merit where the haven and hell is not existing.
Background: Art of Culture |
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