AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF I-SAN STUPA MYTH

Abstract

     The objectives of this research article were: 1) to study writing the I-san Stupa myth 2) to study the essence of the I-san Stupa myth. This research was conducted based on Documentary Research Methodology and concluded with descriptive analysis.

     The result of the study found that: A way of wring the I-san Stupa myth consisted of two structures of myth: (1) the Buddha's appearance and (2) the Buddha's disappearance. Most of those structures were associated with the structure of Vladimia Propp's tales in way that people gave a hero things. Here, things were a cause to encourage a hero to go to the other regions. In the I-san Stupa myth, Arahants got the relic which became a main cause to encourage them to go to the other regions.

     The content of the I-san Stupa myth, told about history of the Buddha 3 versions, didn’t tell about history of Buddha 7 versions, told the local history 9 versions, and told of the I-san society and culture 9 versions.  It told that Buddhism had been brought to I-san since the Buddha's age.  Because the Buddha and Venerable Anandha came to I-san since they came to the Kamphra Mountain. He presses his footprint worshiped by Naga. He also pressed his footprint for the Suwanphingkhan lord at Phra That Choeng Chum. A local history referred to an I-san ancient region and I-san in the historical age that there was good relation of friends, societies and culture, agricultural societies, observance of Uposatha Sila on Buddhist holydays giving in the harvest home and offering food to the monks continuously.