Description
The Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine (ศาลเจ้าปู่-เจ้าย่า) in Sakon Nakhon is where residents of Chinese descent go to honor their ancestors and seek the blessings of happiness, health, and wealth for themselves, their immediate family, and their extended family (or clan). Paying respect to one's ancestors is an important sacred activity in both Chinese Taoism and Thai Buddhism.
The Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine is located in downtown Sakon Nakhon in the Metta Dharma Foundation Courtyard (เมตตาธรรมมูลนิธิสกลนคร). It is especially beautiful at night, as the lighting is very artfully done. It is the first shrine that you will see upon entering the ornately designed Chinese archway that is seen from the road which passes by the entrance gate.
The Thai name of the shrine is pronounced "săan jâo bpòo - jâo yâa". The term jâo bpòo (เจ้าปู่) means revered grandfather and jâo yâa (เจ้าย่า) means revered grandmother. These Thai terms can refer to any aged man and woman who is beloved by people (i.e. not necessarily one's real grandmother and grandfather).
On entering the shrine you'll immediately see pillows on the floor before a shrine of the Chinese "Fat Buddha" known as Budai, who assists the ancestors (Chao Pu-Chao Ya) in the granting of auspicious blessings. Visitors will kneel on the pillows while holding burning incense and make their prayers. Then they will carry the incense behind the Budai shrine to three sacred pots.
The incense pots are directly in front of the Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine, which features two figurines clothed in elaborate Chinese dress, representing the revered grandfather and grandmother. They are wearing ornate headdresses that are decorated with oranges. And visitors will often bring oranges to show their respect.
The incense pot on the left is designated for Chao Pu and the one on the right for Chao Ya. The pot in the middle is labeled Krathang Nee Haam Yok (กระถางนีห้ามยก), which means that this pot must never be picked up, for it represents the everlasting, unbroken love of Chao Pu and Chao Ya. Worshipers will place their burning incense sticks on all three pots or just one in particular if they are seeking a special blessing from a grandfather or grandmother who is now deceased.
On leaving the Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine, visitors will usually walk over to the neighboring Tai Hong Kong Shrine (ศาลเจ้า ไต่ฮงกง), which is located in front of a fabulous new Chinese temple that is currently under construction, and should be completed by 2024.
If you are interested in Chinese culture in the Northeast of Thailand, there is also a Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine in Udon Thani, a neighboring province of Sakon Nakhon.
