The Worshipped Chinese In Thailand

Monk Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty, Monk Dafeng of the Song Dynasty, Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty played an important role in Chinese history and culture. According to different methods, their story and legend spread into Thailand. A special and important cultural phenomenon is that their images have changed enormously. They were no more the real-historical figures than the saint. They were dedicated in the temple. The text presents the process that they were introduced to Thailand and worshipped as the deity and analyses the course and meaning of the change in their images. The article consists of five chapters.The opening chapter gives analysis of the name of Siam. Throughout the Chinese phylogeny of ancient book,"Siam" didn’t appear directly. But many other terms, such as "Lavo""Lopburi" represented Siam."Siam" appeared in Chinese historical records that later than the Ming Dynasty. Different terms represented different settling time, different geographic position state, the different history and the characters of the country. The only way to research the historical relations between these three persons and Thailand is to study the specific meaning of these terms accurately.Chapter2summarizes the change of Xuanzang’s image in Thailand. Xuanzang has never been to Thailand, but Thailand people knew him well through the novel Pilgrimage to the West.Thailand people gradually learning Pilgrimage to the West by Chinese people living Thailand, old operand the translation. In Thailand people’s mind, Xuanzang in the temple was the same to Tangseng in the novel. They worshipped that kind person who toiled to advocate benevolence and righteousness and was well protected by three good apprentices.The third chapter describes the process of Monk Dafeng who was worshipped as the deity. Dafeng was an ordinary monk in the Song Dynasty, because of his kindness and benevolence, he was respected and worshipped by people in Chao Shan area. In 1896, Marun take the statue of the Buddha to Thailand. With the development and the growth of Poh Teck Tung Foundation, Monk Dafeng of the Song Dynasty was gradually being considered as celestial beings.Chapter4discusses the change about Zheng He’s image in Thailand. When it comes to Zheng He, there are many different records in China ancient books. Personally speaking, I’m in favour of the view that Zheng He has been Siam two times. The story about Zheng He has been passed down from generation to generation in the overseas and ethnic Chinese. Many a proud hope and full of rich imagination mingled in Zheng He’s story. These legends and stories made his image more vivid and he was regarded as divine beings.Chapter Five explains the causation and great significance of the image’s change about these three persons. In a word, there are many differences among them. But as the real persons in Chinese history, they were worshipped as the deity and dedicated in the temple. That has the particular reason, including the transmission of benevolence and righteousness, the anchorage of the overseas and ethnic Chinese, the tolerance and containing of Thailand people and the royal’s endorsement. The analysis and studies about these reasons offers us valuable experiences for promoting and developing Chinese culture, and our Chinese culture can be passed and developed in the new times.