Thai Funerals: An Overview Guide

Contents

A funeral is an inevitable ritual of life, a final destination in our earthly journey. Thailand approaches this solemn occasion with its unique customs and traditions. If you have been living in Thailand for a while, you may soon find yourself having to attend a local funeral. It is essential to understand the details and cultural significance of this ceremony. This article will provide you with an overview look on the practice and spiritual meanings of Thai funerals as well as key elements of attending funerals in Thailand

Background

Thai funerals, an intricate ceremony that reflects respect for the deceased and provide solace to the living, is a mixture of Animism, Brahmanism-Hinduism, and Buddhism, each contributing unique elements to the funeral practices. Animism provides beliefs about ghosts, spirits, and ancestral worship while Brahmanism-Hinduism offers guidelines for rituals, adding structure to the ceremonies. Buddhism, as the predominant religion in Thailand, introduces the elements of karma, reincarnation, and merit-making. Together, these spiritual influences shape the primary goals of a Thai funeral: to honor the deceased, support their journey to the next life, and provide comfort to the grieving family.

History

Since ancient times, Thai people have widely practiced both burial and cremation ceremonies. Burial practices in Thailand date back to prehistoric times, with evidences found in sites such as the at Phimai Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province and Ban Chiang Archaeological Site in Udon Thani province. Many prehistoric cultures in Thailand practiced a type of burial known as secondary burial, whereby the cadaver is buried for a time before the bones are retrieved an interred once again. The culture of cremation, on the other hand, has its roots in Brahmin-Buddhist traditions. Over time, cremation has become more popular due to its convenience and affordability, as well as religious influences.

Crematorium of Wat Debsirinthawat
(cr. กสิณธร ราชโอรส)

An indispensable component of the Thai cremation ceremony is the crematorium called “meru” (เมรุ), which represents “Mount Meru,” the center of the universe and the gateway to heaven in the Brahmin and Buddhist beliefs. Therefore, Thai Buddhists use crematoriums to send the deceased’s spirit to heaven.

In the past, royal family members were cremated at a centrally located, elaborate crematorium. Those with moderate status might use a “knock-down crematorium” made of wood, imitating the royal style. Commoners typically used an open-air cremation platform called “choeng takorn” (เชิงตะกอน) decorated with traditional Thai carvings. Today, however, the cremations of royal family members are still carried out in the same way, while ordinary people use permanent crematoriums located in temples.

Royal Crematorium of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(cr. phramerumas.finearts.go.th)

There is no clear record of when the first cement crematorium was built. As far as we know, the permanent crematorium at Wat Debsirinthawat, approximately 100 years old, is still used for royal cremations. Another one is in Wat Saket, which is said to have been in use since the reign of King Rama III (1824–51). By 1957, cement crematoriums began to spread from major temples in Bangkok to smaller temples on the city’s outskirts and important provincial temples, and eventually throughout the country.

During the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910), Western customs flowed into Thailand in many dimensions, one of which was funerals. Thais began to dress in all black or black and white as a dress code for mourning, and wreaths began to appear at funerals.

Western-style wreaths were introduced to Thailand during the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910). The first recorded use of wreaths in Thailand was in 1904, at the royal crematorium of Chao Chom Manda Piam, the royal wife of King Rama V. Over time, wreaths became associated with funerals in Thailand, symbolizing condolences for the deceased. “Wreath” is transliterated to Thai as “หรีด” pronounced like “reed.”

Wreaths at the funeral of former Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa
(cr. Matichon)

Traditionally, fresh flowers were used for wreaths due to their symbolic meaning, with their bloom representing life and their withering signifying decay. However, concerns about waste and pollution have led to the adoption of more practical and reusable items for wreaths, such as fans, blankets, books, and kitchen utensils. These items can be donated to the temple or those in need after the funeral, adding lasting value. This act is also believed to help generate good karma for the deceased.

Activities

Thai funerals involve numerous stages and extend over several days. Let’s delve into the specifics of each phase.

Before the funeral

The Thai funeral ceremony spans several days, but the process begins with reporting the death. Within 24 hours, the registrar’s office or local police must be informed of the death. They will then issue a death certificate. The next step is to contact a temple to schedule the ceremony and arrange transport for the body. During the funeral procession, the children or relatives of the deceased will carry an incense burner and a photo of the deceased, with a monk leading the whole procession with a holy thread to guide the spirit of the deceased to the temple. If the deceased qualifies for royal bathing water, the family will notify the relevant agency to obtain the water.

Bathing and preparing the body

The bathing of the corpse is carried out privately by family members using warm water, followed by cold water. This symbolizes that maintaining a mind as pure as coconut water will lead one to the path of nirvana upon death. A coin is placed in the corpse’s mouth as a reminder to the living that upon death, not even a single dime can be taken with them. The nose is then plugged with cotton, and the body is treated with turmeric and perfume. If the deceased is a parent or loved one, a white cloth may be used to wipe their face, palms, and soles, which can be kept as a keepsake. The body is then dressed in the cleanest clothing; military personnel, police officers, and government officials often wear their uniform. Some families may apply postmortem makeup to the deceased. The bathing is to ensure that the deceased commences their journey to the next world in a fresh and clean condition. Nowadays, the morgue can take care of the bathing and dressing process for the family. Once dressed, the body is placed on the bed for the watering ceremony.

Watering ceremony

(cr. Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital)

The bed for the watering ceremony is placed to the left of the altar table, with the altar to the north of the corpse’s head. The altar table, also known as “to mu bucha” (โต๊ะหมู่บูชา), is a group of tables on which a Buddha statue is placed for worship. While there is no exact format for a funeral altar table, it typically includes a Buddha statue, an incense burner, candle holders, and decorative flowers. The corpse lies on its back, covered with satin or new cloth, leaving only the face and right hand exposed, with the right hand extended for the watering ceremony. If the corpse is not in a presentable condition, a holy thread is connected from the body to a container for the watering ceremony.

The host will prepare a container of perfumed water and small bowls for the funeral attendees. The attendees first pay respect to the deceased, then pour the perfumed water on the extended right palm of the body, expressing condolences or asking for forgiveness for any wrongdoings in life that they have committed upon the deceased. This ceremony also reminds the living that all of us will eventually leave this world empty-handed.

In addition, families of the deceased who have rendered significant services to the nation may request royal water for bathing the corpse, a gesture that honors both the deceased and their family. The perfumed water is given to the family by ceremonial and is poured over the deceased at the end of the watering ceremony. High-ranking officials may also receive an honorary performance from the wong pi chanai klong chana (วงปี่ไฉนกลองชนะ), an oboe and drum band, to accompany the royal water bathing and interring ceremonies.

Wrapping and placing the body in the coffin

After dressing the body, we put bags made of white cloth over the head, hands, and feet. The palms of the hands are pressed together on the chest to hold flowers, incense sticks, and candles. Then, create three nooses with unbleached raw threads: the first one tying around the neck, the second one around the thumbs and wrists, and the third one around the big toes and ankles. This way of wrapping the body is called “mud tra sung” (มัดตราสัง). Once the nooses are in place, the body is wrapped in a white cloth two more times and tied with a raw thread at five positions along the length of the body.

These nooses and knots are not without meanings. The five tying positions represent Five Hindrances (นิวรณ์ 5) – sensual desires, ill will, sloth and drowsiness, restlessness and anxiety, uncertainty – that disturb the mind and blind one’s vision of the truth. The three nooses symbolize the three things that bind life to the cycle of Samsara. The one at the neck represents children, one at the hands being a spouse, and the one at the ankles being wealth. To attain nirvana, one must shake off these three traps. These symbolisms reflect the teachings of Buddhism.

The body is then placed in the coffin. It is crucial to ensure that the deceased’s head is always oriented westward. In Thai ceremonies, various types of coffins are used, ranging from those for ordinary individuals to urns for those receiving royal decorations and for royalty as follows:

1. Ordinary coffins are white rectangular coffins, lined with plastic sheets, and often decorated with Thai patterns such as Thep Phanom motif, angel reliefs, and sugar cane leaf designs. They can also be covered with various colored cloths or lace on the exterior. The coffins can be elevated by adding a base.

(cr. www.suriyafuneral.com)

2. Chinese-style coffins feature delicate Chinese patterns and are popular among Thai-Chinese families who opt for a half-Thai, half-Chinese funeral ceremony. These coffins are designed for burial, not cremation.

(source: www.suriyafuneral.com)

3. Air-conditioned coffins (Cold Coffins) are often donated to temples to organize funerals of those who lack funds. The air-conditioning helps preserve the corpse during the Abhidhamma prayer and merit-making ceremonies.

(source: www.suriyafuneral.com)

4. Coffins for recipients of royal decorations

Recipients of royal decorations and honors either receive special coffins or large crematory urns known as khot (โกศ), depending on their rank, status, or the contributions they have made when they were alive. For the coffins, the decorated exterior is often placed over the actual coffin housing the body. The exterior is removed before cremation. For khot, in the past, the body of the deceased would be placed in the urn in a fetal position. Nowadays, however, the khot is displayed in front of the coffin as a ceremonial gesture. The royally-bestowed coffins and urns are ranked as follow:

– Coffin with eaves – heep choeng chai (หีบเชิงชาย)