Bamboo Woven Paccayanaga: Handicrafts for a Plentiful Land

Abstract

This academic article aims to study the Paccayanaga, sacred elephant, as a sacred elephant for the plentiful land in Buddhist scriptures, the continuation of the belief in sacred elephants that still exists in the Buddhist belief system in Lanna, as well as the integration of beliefs through the woven bamboo Paccayanaga handicraft, which is an art for the plentiful land.

Mahavessantara Jataka is a Jataka that tells of the last life of the Bodhisattva before becoming enlightened as the current Buddha, Gautama. It is a popular sermon as a tradition called the Tang-Dham-Luang festival in Lanna, which the content mentions the auspicious elephant Paccayanaga, which is believed to be able to create prosperity for the land that the elephant passes through. The ìwoven bamboo Paccayanagaî handicraft and the white elephant parade tradition are social innovations resulting from the integration of the belief in Mahavessantara Jataka with Lanna folk arts and crafts. As the elephant Paccayanaga is a symbol of prosperity and auspiciousness, the parade is an activity that promotes community participation and encourages the conservation of natural resources, including the care of forests and water sources. This article points out the value of arts, culture and traditions for the environment, and proposes ways to continue and adapt to accommodate the modern context.