Dr Itsarate Dolphen
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University
Phadaeng Nang Ai is well-known widely in Northeast Thailand, especially in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Maha Sarakham. These regions have many place names related to this particular piece of literature. Phadaeng Nang Ai has been associated with tradition, culture and the way of life of Isan people for a long time. It is interesting to study whether or not this literature illuminates “loka-dharma”, “suffering-happiness” dharmic principles that can be used as a philosophy of life, and how Isan people inherit their language and cultural knowledge associated with Phadaeng Nang Ai and Boun Bung Fai, or the rocket festival. The data for this study was collected from Phadaeng Nang Ai literature composed by Thongphoon Pornsawat and Phongthai Petdee (2002), and from an observation of the rocket festival, as well as in-depth interviews done with Isan people in Khon Kaen province. The results reveal that Phadang Nang Ai literature illuminates the important principles of both loka and dharma. For the loka principle, all life is suffering. The circle of life known as birth, old age, sickness and death, is dukkha or suffering. The world is impermanent – everything is subject to change and alteration. As mentioned in Buddhism, there are eight causes of suffering as found in the story of Phadaeng Nang Ai: birth, old age, sickness, death, unsuccessful desire, departing form beloved things, resentment, and body. As for the Dharmic principles, it was found that the best goodness that can be performed to the highest level by human beings are: happiness, perfection, duty and good will. It was also found that “happiness”, one of the best goodness of human beings and world ethics, is not a real happiness, but a fake happiness in the age of materialism. From my observation and in-depth interviews, it was found that Isan people inherit their language and cultural knowledge by associating knowledge of Phadaeng Nang Ai with the rocket festival, such as a parade and rocket procession contest, a demonstration and competition of Seing Bung Fai. These activities are the inheritance of Isan cultural heritage from generation to generation. They help to encourage new generations to be proud of their own cultural roots.
(เสนอในการประชุมวิชาการระดับชาติ "โลกกับธรรม : ภูมิปัญญาความรู้ในงานพุทธศิลป์อีสาน" ระหว่างวันที่ 22-23 กุมภาพันธ์ 2561 ณ โรงแรมพูลแมน ขอนแก่น ราชาออคิด จังหวัดขอนแก่น จัดโดย โครงการวิวัฒน์ไทยศึกษานานาชาติเพื่อการพัฒนาสังคมไทย (ENITS) สถาบันไทยศึกษา จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย, สาขาวิชาภาษาและวรรณคดีตะวันออก คณะศิลปศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยอุบลราชธานี และ สาขาวิชาภาษาไทย คณะมนุษยศาสตร์และสังคมศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น)