Poy Sang Long
Shan Theravada Buddhist novitiation ceremony
- 1 min read
- 2 chapters
Related on Lably
Through The Buddha
Etymology
The Tai Yai name poy sang long is decomposed as follows:
- poy (ပွႆး) meaning 'event', borrowed from Burmese pwe (ပွဲ);
- sang (သၢင်ႇ), thought to come from either khun sang ('brahman') or sang ('novice monk');
- long (လွင်း), from along meaning Bodhisattva or 'king's lineage', borrowed from Burmese alaung (အလောင်း). Long (လွင်း), from Burmese laung (လောင်း), also means "stage before the final change." Thus, sang long (သၢင်ႇလွင်း) refers to a "boy or young man before becoming a novice monk."
Sign in to keep reading
One more chapter is free with a Lably account.
Observances
In neighbouring Thailand, where Shan immigrants have brought over the traditions from Myanmar, the ceremony goes on for three days, as the boys (dressed like princes in imitation of Gautama Buddha, who was himself a prince before setting out on the religious path) spend the entire time being carried around on the shoulders of their older male relatives. On the third day, they are ordained and enter the monastery for a period of at least one week, and perhaps many years.