Notes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 | Papers: 1, 2, 3
Thai Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Indonesia Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Art 399
School
June 11, 1999
Interview with John C. Shaw. Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Figurines Human and others.

Human figurines are mainly found with broken heads as they were commonly decapitated during ritual. Female figures are quite common because of the belief that women were especially susceptible to intervention and mischief from the spirits when pregnant. People would make a female figurine then break off the head and bury the head and body [whether or not they were buried together is unknown]. This was done in an attempt to fake out the spirits and make them think the mother had died. Thus it was hoped the spirits would leave the woman alone and she would have an unproblematic pregnancy. This ceremony was probably conducted by a Brahmin priest, and is largely animist.

There are still many mediums and the like around, and other spirit interactors.

Many of the court ceremonies are Brahmin.

Other figures that show up are: oxen, horses, tigers, only one instance of a cat, bears, chickens, frogs, rabbits, and fish. Surprisingly no water buffalo. Most of these are spirit house offerings. There are some toys with wheels, etc.

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on an earlier visit to the history dept. museum.

The figurines of Sawankolok are found mostly decapitated. This is because they used the figurines in rituals for healing and exorcism and the like. The figure was decapitated as a catalyst for the induction of magical power in the ritual. It is also possible that these figures could be used in a ritual associated with Buddhism and the destruction of ego.