ช้างในนิทานพื้นบ้านล้านนา

Abstract

This thesis had the objective of studying the existence and the meanings of elephants in Lanna folklore. As many as 107 Lanna folktales relating to elephants were selected from various printed materials. The tales were classified into three groups: 24 Jataka tales, 8 animal tales and 75 specific local or indigenous tales. In addition, the elephants appearing in those tales were classified according to their outstanding features: supernatural looking and those distinctively different from other elephants in general. There were elephants used in wars and elephants believed to be the lineage of the Bodhisattva. The study was based mainly on the concepts of functionalism and symbolism. It was discovered that elephants in Lanna folktales appeared in two categories: major characters and minor characters. Some had a supernatural birth. In terms of their relationship with their human counterparts, many of the elephants in Lanna folktales were treated as family members and were related to the human settlements. These elephants were found to have both positive and negative behavior. The study reflected the meaning of the elephants in light of the beliefs related to elephants and humans way of living involving their being a sacred and auspicious creature, their power to enhance the status of man, dreams related to elephants and their being used as a tool to instill morality and their role in providing assistance to humans. In another dimension, elephants were considered a symbol of religious support, and a power zone indicator as well as a means for professional conduct. In the Lanna social context at present, elephants remain influential to people’s thinking as they generally appear gigantic and powerful while being charming creatures that signify auspiciousness. As a result, elephants have been used, and continue to play a great role in various dimensions of human society.