God Characters in Thai Dramatic Work: Background and Role Play

ตัวละครเทพในนาฏกรรมไทย: ที่มาและบทบาท

Authors

  • Borvornnut Anyapho Graduate student, Doctor of Philosophy Program in Thai Theater and Dance, Department of Dance, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
  • Anukoon Rotjanasuksomboon Associate Professor Dr., Department of Dance, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University

Keywords:

God Dramatic work, Thai dramatic work

Abstract

     The purpose of this article was to study the background and role play of god characters in Thai dramatic work focusing on literatures and performances. In this study, research instruments were reviewing books, textbooks, thesis, articles, literatures, and dramatic work dialogues and interviewing. The data were then analyzed in order to find the background and role play pf gods in Thai dramatic work. It was found that gods were a group of performers as appeared in the performances of a lot of Thai dramatic work that had the background and specific role play based on 3 groups of beliefs: 1) gods in dramatic work from beliefs of Hinduism religion that received the influence from Ramakien, the great epic poems of India, which could be divided into 5 groups of gods, namely high gods, secondary gods, angels, servant deities, and demon gods, 2) gods in dramatic work from beliefs of Buddhism religion that received the influence from Jataka tales which had the Indra god as the leader of all gods, and  3) gods in dramatic work from ancient beliefs which received the influence from narratives, tales, and folktales as appeared in the form of local spirit that later on took the name from Indian gods to call which also related to their miracle powers.  Apart from appearing in Khon performance and Lakorn stories, gods in Thai dramatic work were still found in dance performing, Rabam, and royal playing in a short episode also.

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References

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Published

2021-12-09

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2021): July - December

Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)