Vow Ending in a Ceremony of Vow Fulfilling by Petchaburi Shadow Puppetry

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze methods of the vow ending in a ceremony of vow fulfilling by Petchaburi Shadow Puppetry. Data were collected from the text and the context in a ceremony of vow fulfilling. The result shows that there are 2 methods of the vow ending. The first method is the textual method. The content of the text consists of calling holy spirits, shooting an arrow, deleting vow from an account book, throwing vow to water, and feeding aquatic animals with a vow. The second method is a non-textual method or action method. A vow maker may tear some leaf, grass, rope, or paper, and make a cut on the food for worshipping holy spirits. Meanwhile, a shadow puppetry performer must cut a piece banana tree for 3 times after finishing a shadow puppetry performance. Both the textual method and the action method convey the symbolic meaning of the vow ending. They assure that a vow maker fulfills his/her promise. Holy spirits accept shadow puppetry and will never ask for anything from a vow maker again. Those symbols help make a vow maker relieved and convinced.