Cho Prae: Beliefs of people in the Year of the Tiger and the legend of coming to pay homage to Phra That Cho Hae

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) study the historical background of Phra That Cho Hae, and 2) examine the beliefs of people born in the Year of the Tiger in relation to the legend of paying homage to the pagoda. The study employed purposive sampling. The key informants consisted of monks, the abbot of Wat Phra That Cho Hae, local scholars, historians of Phrae, community elders, and local sages. The practitioner group included individuals born in the Year of the Tiger who traveled to worship the pagoda, participants in annual rituals, and organizers or those involved in the ceremonies. The general group comprised tourists, local residents not born in the Year of the Tiger, and young people in the area. This study adopted a qualitative cultural research approach. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and workshops, and were analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that: 1) Phra That Cho Hae was an important sacred site of Phrae Province with a long historical background closely associated with Lanna Buddhism. Local legends mentioned the enshrinement of the Buddha’s relics and the construction of the pagoda, reflecting Lanna artistic styles and the faith of past communities. 2) Phra That Cho Hae was regarded as the pagoda of the Year of the Tiger. Individuals born in the Year of the Tiger traditionally traveled to pay homage in order to gain auspiciousness, enhance their destiny, and achieve prosperity in life. This belief had been transmitted through legends, oral traditions, and annual rituals. As a result, Phra That Cho Hae remained a spiritual center for both local residents and Buddhists from other areas. In conclusion, Phra That Cho Hae was not only valuable in terms of history and architecture but also functioned as a center of belief and cultural identity, reflecting the relationship between religion, zodiac beliefs, and the way of life of people in Lanna society continuously up to the present time.

Keywords: Phra That Cho Hae (Pagoda); Year of the Tiger; Belief