MYTH OF CHIFU WANGYE SHRINE SAIBURI DISTRICT, PATTANI PROVINCE: BELIEVES AND ROLES

Abstract

The purpose of this research is: 1) to study knowledge about legends 2) to analyze the beliefs of the Chifu Wangye Shrine and 3) to analyze the role of the Chifu Wangye Shrine.. This was a qualitative study. Data were collected from 3 main informants: community scholars and experts, people in the community, and tourists, totaling 30 people. The research instrument was an in-depth interview. Data were collected by interviewing together with data from related documents. Data was then analyzed using content analysis. The results of the research found that the Chifu Wangye Shrine, a 106-year-old temple, was built from the belief in the deity Lao Ya Kong of Chinese immigrants who settled in Sai Buri, Pattani during the reign of King Naresuan the Great. It plays a role in the beliefs of devotees in four aspects: 1) Beliefs about health in terms of making sick people recover. 2) Beliefs about family, which are believed to help families live happily and help newborns grow up appropriately. 3) Beliefs in fortune, particularly regarding employment, career advancement, and professional success. 4) belief in resolving bad luck. Chifu Wangye Shrine is another shrine where many people who believe in bad luck travel to perform rituals to resolve bad luck each year. As for the role of Chifu Wangye Shrine, it was found that it has 3 important roles: the role towards individuals in terms of gifts and encouragement for the local community and nearby communities; the role towards the community, where Chifu Wangye Shrine is a sacred place and a place for various rituals related to Thai-Chinese people, demonstrating unity within the community; and the role towards tourism, which can attract tourists to learn about and watch important traditions and rituals that are organized, which can generate a lot of income for people in the community and the shrine.