As I have traveled around SE Asia, I have often marveled at the many mystical creatures that adorn the temple walls, without having any idea of who and what they are. But now, I have a little better idea after following a link from 2bangkok.com to a an interesting site on Thai Mythology called Himmapan. The name of the website refers to the forest that is found between heaven and earth and is home to many different kinds of mixed-animal creatures (like lion-fish and winged elephants).
After looking through all of the mixed-animal creatures, the only one I recognize is the Kinaree, or half-woman, half-swan. But maybe after a little reading, I will have a little better idea of what I am looking at next time I am in a Thai temple.
(By the way, am I wrong for saying "Thai Mythology"? What is the difference between Mythology and Religion? These creatures are on modern Thai temples. Does that make it religion? Or does the fact that most Thai people don't actually believe that these characters exist make it mythology?)
I can't see how the term "Thai Mythology" would be incorrect. Considering Thai Buddhism is such a mix of religion, superstitions and various other elements... the only way to separate the components that make up the religion would be to call it "mytholoogy." I think it'd be the same as getting the story behind the Catholic saints and martyrs - Catholic Mythology (though I think they have a different name for it that sounds fancier, I should know it because I'm a former Catholic but that's another story).
Oy! I was trying to avoid saying something like "Catholic Mythology". I have a feeling that might be a little offensive to some people.
Although certainly some would consider stories like Adam and Eve and Noah's Ark to be Christian Mythology. (Whoa! That's a controversial one for sure!)
hi my name is hannah i am doing a project on thailand can you pleas e send me stuff on thailand to help me through my project thanks Hannah
This is confusing, being Thai, it's hard to figure out all this stuff. Beyond Buddhism, there are the Hindu deities introduced and often interwoven in Buddhist belief, such as Phra In, Phra Prohm, Jao Mae Kongka, Phra Siwa, and Phra Laksamee, which correspond to Indra, Ganga, Shiva, and Laxmi. From the days before Theravada Buddhism, there are Mahayana concepts such as Akoviletsara (sp?) who is often worshipped in Chinese form as Guan Im (Kuanyin) the Goddess of Mercy. Other stuff from Chinese culture include ancestor worship and Chinese gods--especially considering many Bangkok and Central Thai people are either assimilated Chinese or part Chinese. And of course, this is all interwoven with native Thai beliefs in the Phee spirits, some good and some bad, such as the Phee Baan, Phee Ba, Phee Wat, and other tutelary creatures. It's complex, as belief in one or the other seemingly sometimes contradicts belief in the other but somehow it's okay, because Buddhism tops the cake.