สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume III - 2011 95 Pathom Hongsuwan the changing society. The knowledge does help Lanna society exist with peace and happiness till present. Conclusion The objectives of this research are to analyze and compare the myths of Buddha images found in Lanna land. The study area consisted of 8 provinces in the north of Thailand: Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Lamphun, Lampang, Prae, Phayao, Nan, and Mae Hongsorn. Folklore methods with combination of other cultural sciences were applied to analyze and interpret the content of the myths, the folk belief, and the traditional rituals related to the worship of the Buddha images. The data were collected from verbal interview and literary information. 109 issues were collected. The survey for data collection on the myths of Buddha images in Lanna land showed that some names of the Buddha images were found different: Phra Chao Khang ( æ√–·°â «¢“« ), Phra Chao Ta Khiew ( æ√–‡®â “쓇¢’ ¬« ), Phra Chao Phla-la Khang ( æ√–‡®â “æ≈“≈–·¢à ß ), Phra Chao Un-Muang ( æ√–‡®â “Õÿà π‡¡◊ Õß ), Phra Chao Nang Din ( æ√–‡®â “π—Ë ß¥‘ π ); some were the same: Phra Chao Tan Jai ( æ√–‡®â “∑— π„® ), Phra Chao Ton Luang ( æ√–‡®â “μπÀ≈«ß ), Phra Kaew ( æ√–·°â « ), Phra Chao Lan Thong ( æ√–‡®â “≈â “πμÕß ), Phra Yuen ( æ√–¬◊ π ), Phra Non ( æ√–πÕπ ), Phra Chao Thong Tip ( æ√–‡®â “∑Õß∑‘ æ¬å ). However, the popular name of the Buddha images in Lanna is ç Phra Chao é ( æ√–‡®â “ ) which means the sacred Buddha image. The analysis of the content and the meaning of the Buddha images in Lanna myth indicated that there was the similarity of the significant situations and behaviors found in different myths such as the meaning of the gestures of the images like sitting, walking, standing, eating, sleeping, and flying. These gestures were informed in relevance that the Buddhaûs particular gesture is considered special and easy to remember. Moreover, it was found that there were some unique characteristics of each image like the halo, the head, the face, the eyes, the body, and the feet. Some myths told that these special characteristics were all made by the supernatural power. The meaning of the image that had been repeated was about the important behaviors and situation on the supernatural power related to the responsibility for protecting the towns, protecting the rulers, commanding for water and rain, and telling the future. The myth also told its meaning through the significant behaviors and situations related to the image for example, the stories about the history of the Buddha image, the sculptor who made the Buddha image, and the names of the Buddha image in Lanna culture. 86-97_mac9 4/26/12, 9:08 PM 95