Wai khru
Encyclopedia
The wai khru ceremony is a Thai
ritual in which students pay respects to their teachers in order to express their gratitude and formalize the student–teacher relationship. It is regularly held near the beginning of the school year in most schools in Thailand
. Wai khru has long been an important rite in the traditional martial
and performing arts
, as well as in astrology
, Thai Massage and other traditional arts; students and performers of Muay Thai
and Krabi Krabong
, as well as Thai dance and classical music, will usually perform a wai khru ritual at their initiation as well as before performances to pay respect and homage to both their teachers and the deities who patronize their arts.
in Thai Massage, where specific mention is made to Shivaga Komarpaj and Narayana
, along with other Vedic deities. Wai khru has for most of history existed as a folk tradition, passed on from generation to generation throughout the years.
The wai khru ceremony in its modern form, which is held in most schools today, originated at Triam Udom Suksa School
in 1941. The chant was written by Thanpuying Dussadee Malakul Na Ayutthaya (the wife of ML Pin Malakul
, director of the school at the time).
is observed as the official religion, followed by the students' recitation of the wai khru chant, which expresses respect for and gratitude to the teachers, and asks for the teachers' blessing of their studies. Following this, a select number of students, usually the representatives of each class, will present the teachers with offerings of flowers, candles and joss stick
s arranged on phan
(traditional Thai pedestalled trays). This is usually followed by a speech by the headteacher offering the students guidance in their academic career. Many institutions also present student awards and honours during the ceremony.
The traditional offerings for wai khru represent a symbolism of student qualities, namely:
The ceremony is usually held shortly after the beginning of the first term, on a Thursday, as Thursday is traditionally the day of Brihaspati
, Vedic god of wisdom and teachers.
These ceremonies usually begin with Buddhist rites on the evening before and/or the morning of the ceremony day. Monks may be invited to perform a merit-making ceremony, and almsgiving made to monks in the morning before the ceremony. The setting of the ceremony is usually arranged with a Buddhist altar on one side and a set of musical instruments on the other, with the taphon
, which represents Phra Prakhonthap (Pragondharba), god of the drums and grand-teacher of music, placed in a higher position.
Khon
masks representing the gods and teachers of music, Bharata Muni
, Pragondharba, Vishvakarman
, Pancasikha and Biraba are usually displayed. Representations of Shiva
, Vishnu
, Brahma
and Ganesha
may also be included. A table of offerings to the gods and spirits to be invited during the ceremony is arranged, and khan kamnon , a bowl of flowers, joss sticks, candles, white cloth and money amounting to six baht, is prepared for worship of the gods.
The ceremony is conducted by a presiding teacher, traditionally dressed in white, who leads the assembly in lighting candles and joss sticks, and saying invocations venerating the Three Jewels
and deities, asking for their blessing. The musical ensemble will play the na phat, a formal piece of music symbolizing the summoning of the gods and spirits, and the presiding teacher will perform the offering of the prepared foods. Afterwards, the presiding teacher will sprinkle lustral water (prepared earlier during the ceremony) and perform choem, application of a white paste, to the musical instruments, teachers and participants in the ceremony, for good fortune.
The wai khru ceremony is thus concluded, and is usually followed by the khrop khru ceremony, or rite of initiation.
practitioners before a match. See Wai khru ram muay
for details.
Culture of Thailand
The Culture of Thailand incorporates cultural beliefs and characteristics indigenous to the area known as modern day Thailand coupled with much influence from ancient India, China, Cambodia, along with the neighbouring pre-historic cultures of Southeast Asia...
ritual in which students pay respects to their teachers in order to express their gratitude and formalize the student–teacher relationship. It is regularly held near the beginning of the school year in most schools in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Wai khru has long been an important rite in the traditional martial
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, as well as in astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, Thai Massage and other traditional arts; students and performers of Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
and Krabi Krabong
Krabi Krabong
Krabi krabong is a weapon-based martial art from Thailand. It is closely related to other Southeast Asian fighting styles such as Indonesian-Malay silat, Burmese banshay and the armed component of Cambodian bokator...
, as well as Thai dance and classical music, will usually perform a wai khru ritual at their initiation as well as before performances to pay respect and homage to both their teachers and the deities who patronize their arts.
History
The rituals of wai khru are believed to have derived from ancient animistic beliefs, influenced by the spread of Brahmanism from India. This is evident in the wai khru ceremonies of traditional dance and music, where specific mention is made to IshvaraIshvara
Ishvara is a philosophical concept in Hinduism, meaning controller or the Supreme controller in a theistic school of thought or the Supreme Being, or as an Ishta-deva of monistic thought.-Etymology:...
in Thai Massage, where specific mention is made to Shivaga Komarpaj and Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
, along with other Vedic deities. Wai khru has for most of history existed as a folk tradition, passed on from generation to generation throughout the years.
The wai khru ceremony in its modern form, which is held in most schools today, originated at Triam Udom Suksa School
Triam Udom Suksa School
Triam Udom Suksa School is a state school located in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. It admits upper-secondary students and has the largest yearly enrolment in the country...
in 1941. The chant was written by Thanpuying Dussadee Malakul Na Ayutthaya (the wife of ML Pin Malakul
Pin Malakul
Mom Luang Pin MalakulMom luang is a Thai honorific hereditary title denoting a royal bloodline; the subject's personal name was Pin Malakul. See Thai royal and noble titles for details. was a Thai educator and writer...
, director of the school at the time).
In educational institutions
The wai khru ceremonies which take place in most educational institutions in Thailand today generally follow the same form. The ceremony usually begins with a Buddhist prayer ritual in institutions where BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
is observed as the official religion, followed by the students' recitation of the wai khru chant, which expresses respect for and gratitude to the teachers, and asks for the teachers' blessing of their studies. Following this, a select number of students, usually the representatives of each class, will present the teachers with offerings of flowers, candles and joss stick
Joss stick
Joss sticks are a type of incense used in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, traditionally burned before a Chinese religious image, idol or shrine. They can also be burned in front of a door, or open window as an offering to heaven, or devas...
s arranged on phan
Phan (tray)
Phan is an artistically decorated tray with a pedestal common in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.-Description:A phan is normally round and comes in different sizes. The usual measures range between a diameter of 20 cm to about 50 cm. It is more or less deep....
(traditional Thai pedestalled trays). This is usually followed by a speech by the headteacher offering the students guidance in their academic career. Many institutions also present student awards and honours during the ceremony.
The traditional offerings for wai khru represent a symbolism of student qualities, namely:
- IxoraIxoraIxora is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs and holds around 500 species. Though native to the tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, its centre of diversity is in Tropical Asia. Ixora also grows commonly in...
(khem) flowers, which while closed form pointed buds, symbolizing sharp wit, - Cynodon dactylonCynodon dactylonCynodon dactylon , also known as Dūrvā Grass, Bermuda Grass, Dubo, Dog's Tooth Grass, Bahama Grass, Devil's Grass, Couch Grass, Indian Doab, Arugampul, Grama, and Scutch Grass, is a grass native to north and east Africa, Asia and Australia and southern Europe...
(ya phraek, or Bermuda grass), the rapid growth and resilience of which symbolize perseverance and the ability to learn, - Popped rice (khao tok), which symbolizes discipline, and
- Eggplant flowers, which bow low when nearing fruiting, symbolizing respect and humility.
The ceremony is usually held shortly after the beginning of the first term, on a Thursday, as Thursday is traditionally the day of Brihaspati
Brihaspati
Bṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
, Vedic god of wisdom and teachers.
Thai classical music
Wai khru ceremonies for Thai classical music may be held by professional pi phat ensembles or amateur ensembles attached to institutions such as schools and universities. These also take place on Thursday, and are usually held annually, as well as on a smaller scale for the initiation of those beginning to learn the arts.These ceremonies usually begin with Buddhist rites on the evening before and/or the morning of the ceremony day. Monks may be invited to perform a merit-making ceremony, and almsgiving made to monks in the morning before the ceremony. The setting of the ceremony is usually arranged with a Buddhist altar on one side and a set of musical instruments on the other, with the taphon
Taphon
thumb|200px|taphonThe taphon is a traditional drum of Thailand. It is barrel-shaped with two heads, and is played by the hands and fingers of both hands, much like the more popular congas....
, which represents Phra Prakhonthap (Pragondharba), god of the drums and grand-teacher of music, placed in a higher position.
Khon
Khon
Khon is a genre of dance drama from Thailand. It is traditionally performed solely in the royal court, by men in masks accompanied by narrators and a traditional piphat ensemble. A variation of this genre with female performers is called khon phu ying...
masks representing the gods and teachers of music, Bharata Muni
Bharata Muni
Bharata was an ancient Indian musicologist who authored the Natya Shastra, a theoretical treatise on ancient Indian dramaturgy and histrionics, dated to between roughly 400 BC and 200 BC. Indian dance and music find their root in the Natyashastra...
, Pragondharba, Vishvakarman
Vishvakarman
Viśvákarma is the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects...
, Pancasikha and Biraba are usually displayed. Representations of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
and Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
may also be included. A table of offerings to the gods and spirits to be invited during the ceremony is arranged, and khan kamnon , a bowl of flowers, joss sticks, candles, white cloth and money amounting to six baht, is prepared for worship of the gods.
The ceremony is conducted by a presiding teacher, traditionally dressed in white, who leads the assembly in lighting candles and joss sticks, and saying invocations venerating the Three Jewels
Three Jewels
The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Siemese Triples, Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem , are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.The Three Jewels are:* BuddhaTaking refuge in the Three Jewels is...
and deities, asking for their blessing. The musical ensemble will play the na phat, a formal piece of music symbolizing the summoning of the gods and spirits, and the presiding teacher will perform the offering of the prepared foods. Afterwards, the presiding teacher will sprinkle lustral water (prepared earlier during the ceremony) and perform choem, application of a white paste, to the musical instruments, teachers and participants in the ceremony, for good fortune.
The wai khru ceremony is thus concluded, and is usually followed by the khrop khru ceremony, or rite of initiation.
Muay Thai
Wai khru ram may is a form of wai khru ritual performed by Muay ThaiMuay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
practitioners before a match. See Wai khru ram muay
Wai khru ram muay
Wai Khru Ram Muay is a warm up activity in Thai culture that is performed by participants in Muay Thai competitions. Wai is an action of Thais to show respect to others by putting the hands together like in prayer. Khru means teacher. Ram means dance in the old Thai traditional style. Muay means...
for details.