Thewai khru ceremony (Thai:พิธีไหว้ครู, pronounced[wâːjkʰrūː]) is aThai ritual in which students pay respects to 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 inThailand.Wai khru has long been an important rite in the traditionalmartial andperforming arts, as well as inastrology, Thai Massage and other traditional arts; students and performers ofMuay Thai andKrabi Krabong, as well asThai dance andclassical music, will usually perform awai 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.
The rituals ofwai khru are believed to have derived from ancient animistic beliefs, influenced by the spread ofBrahminism from India. This is evident in thewai khru ceremonies of traditional dance and music, where specific mention is made toIshvara, and in Thai Massage, where specific mention is made toShivaga Komarpaj andNarayana, along with other Hindu deities.Wai khru has for most of history existed as a folk tradition, passed on from generation to generation throughout the years.[1]
Thewai khru ceremony in its modern form, which is held in most schools today, originated atTriam Udom Suksa School in 1941. Thesarabhañña chant was written by Thanpuying Dussadee Malakul Na Ayutthaya (the wife of MLPin Malakul, director of the school at the time).[2]
Thewai khru ceremonies which take place in most educational institutions in Thailand today generally follow the same form. The ceremony usually begins with a Buddhist devotion in institutions whereTheravada Buddhism is observed as the official religion, followed by the students' recitation of thewai 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 andjoss sticks arranged onphan (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.[3]
The traditional offerings forwai khru represent a symbolism of student qualities, namely:[3][4]
The ceremony is usually held shortly after the beginning of the first term, on a Thursday, as Thursday is traditionally the day ofBrihaspati, Vedic god of wisdom and teachers.[4]
Wai khru ceremonies forThai classical music may be held by professionalpi 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.[1]
These ceremonies usually begin with Buddhist rites on the evening before and/or the morning of the ceremony day.Buddhist monks may be invited to perform amerit-making ceremony, andalmsgiving 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 thetaphon, which represents Phra Prakhonthap (Pragondharba), god of the drums and grand-teacher of music, placed in a higher position.[1]
Khon masks representing the gods and teachers of music,Bharata Muni, Pragondharba,Vishvakarman,Pancasikha andBiraba are usually displayed. Representations of Shiva, Vishnu,Brahma andGanesha may also be included. A table of offerings to the gods and spirits to be invited during the ceremony is arranged, andkhan kamnon (ขันกำนล), a bowl of flowers, joss sticks, candles, white cloth and money amounting to six baht, is prepared for worship of the gods.[1]
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 to pay homage to theTriple Gems and venerating the deities, seeking for their blessing. The musical ensemble will play thena phat, a formal piece of music symbolizing the invitation of the gods and spirits, and the presiding teacher will perform the offering of the prepared foods. Afterwards, the presiding teacher will sprinklelustral water (prepared earlier during the ceremony) and performchoem, application of a white paste, to the musical instruments, teachers and participants in the ceremony, for good fortune.[1]
Thewai khru ceremony is thus concluded, and is usually followed by thekhrop khru ceremony, or rite of initiation.[1]
Wai khru ram muay is a form ofwai khru ritual performed byMuay Thai practitioners before a match.
Wai khru is an important part of the culture of traditional massage and medicine in Thailand today.[5]Wai khru ceremonies typically give thanks to a medicine practitioner's lineage of teachers, beginning with the most recent living teachers and culminating withJīvaka Komārabhacca, the legendary doctor of theBuddha in thePāli Canon. Various other divine figures, such as deities,rishi, and other spirits are often also recognized.Wai khru ceremonies typically involve chantingincantations in Pāli, Sanskrit, and Thai, which frequently include passages of scripture honoring the Buddha.Wai khru ceremonies are conducted privately by individual healers, and also can be large community events hosted by traditional medicine schools or other institutions.[5][6]
Some observers, particularly left-wing historiansNidhi Eoseewong andSujit Wongthes, have noted that the modern annualwai khru ceremonies have drifted far from their spirit-worship origins and been transformed into rituals emphasizing the hierarchical status of teachers over students. Whereas older traditions would have teachers and students paying respects together to spirit teachers, the modern tradition instead prominently features the act of students prostrating before their living, personal teachers, a symbolism Sujit claims was invented to promote the government's ideals of authoritarianism during the mid-twentieth century.[7][8]
