Intellectual Heritage on Mythical Figures of Sat Himaphaan: Ten Thai Crafts in Contemporary Royal Ceremonies

Abstract

This article aims to search, compile, study and analyze the historical background and significance of using figures of imaginary animals called as Sat Himaphaan for royal-ceremonial ornamentation and inheritance of decorating this mythical-Himaphaan Forest creatures in Contemporary Royal Ceremonies. The study found that the legendary figures of Sat Himaphaan has been intellectual heritage of Ten Thai Crafts in Thai society which have elaborated from animal-like figures and were known as Sat Himaphaan since the reign of King Rama the Sixth. The tradition and importance of figures of Sat Himaphaan had illustrated in fine arts since the Sukothai period until Rattanakosin era. In royal ceremonial tradition, the figures of Sat Himaphaan has exclusively been introduced for the decoration of Phra Meru and the Royal-Crematory Procession in Royal Funeral Ceremonies of Majesty the King’s royal body and the Members of Royal Family’s bodies to celebrate their solemnity and dignity. In the later time, in the reign of King Rama the Sixth, the tradition of introducing the figures of Sat Himaphaan in the Royal-Crematory Procession had been abrogated. However, at the present time, the inheritance of creating the figures of Sat Himaphaan to decorate Phra Meru in Royal Cremation Ceremonies for the Members of Royal Family has depicted the ideological tradition of Phra Sumeru Mountain in the Triphum Buddhism World with the belief of the King as Demi-God and his rebirth in the Heavenly Devine Kingdom of Mount Sumeru after his death. This has reflected the creation of the legendary figures of Sat Himaphaan has been inherited as cultural Intellectual heritage from the past until contemporary time. An elaborate funeral pyre called Phra Sumeru Merumas be built for Royal Cremations.