The Style of Hasdiling Funeral Castles and the Funeral Ceremony of Monks in Northern Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/ajac.2026.43Keywords:
Funeral castle, Funeral ceremony, Monks, Lanna culture, Hasdiling bird, Lanna Buddhism, Northern ThailandAbstract
This qualitative research examines the cultural and religious significance of the Hasdiling Funeral Castle (Prasad NoK Hasdiling) and related monastic funeral rituals in Northern Thailand. Utilizing documentary review and field data, the study situates the Hasdiling funeral tradition within the framework of intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing its role in preserving Lanna Buddhist cosmology and ritual performance. Findings reveal that, while originally reserved for royal and senior monastic figures, the construction of Funeral Castles has evolved due to modernization and globalization, resulting in hybrid artistic forms influenced by central Thai aesthetics. Additionally, these rituals have become prominent in Buddhist cultural tourism, attracting both local communities and international visitors. This study argues that the Hasdiling Funeral Castle exemplifies the integration of faith, artistry, and socio-religious identity, while serving as a heritage-based tourism resource that reflects the adaptive resilience of Lanna Buddhism in the contemporary world. Furthermore, the study examines the styles and ceremonial practices associated with monks' funerals in Northern Thailand, documenting the “Ngan-Poi-Lor” tradition and the construction of funeral castles, with a primary focus on the Hasdiling bird design. Two primary styles of Hasdiling Funeral Castle have been identified: 1) the traditional Lanna pulpit style and 2) the tetrahedron pavilion style. It was noted that the funeral castles and accessories for monks are often more elaborate than those for laypeople, representing a significant effort in merit-making. The funeral procession includes moving the castle to a temporary crematorium (Lak-Prasad ceremony) and conducting the cremation (Song-Sakan ceremony). Ceremonial accessories are categorized as follows: 1) those associated with the funeral castle, including four bamboos for binding the robe (ceiling), a white or yellow cloth (board), a tri-tails flag, tiered umbrella, traditional fans, state umbrellas, and royal flags; and 2) those related to the monastery and ecclesiastical rank, such as three robes, alms bowl, ecclesiastical rank fan, appointment certificate, photograph, scented firewood, merit-making unit, yellow robes dedicated to the deceased monk, and the firework unit.
Highlights
This study explores the Hasdiling Funeral Castle as Lanna Buddhist intangible cultural heritage, analyzing its ritual, socio-religious meaning, and artistic symbolism. It demonstrates adaptation through modernization and globalization, identifies its significance for Buddhist cultural tourism, and offers implications for heritage preservation and sustainable tourism.
**This research article is part of a larger research project titled “The Hasdiling Funeral Castle in Lanna” which was funded by the Targeted Research Grant for the Humanities in 2016 by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
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