Kao Dee — Ancient Lanna Traditions and Culture
A rare book documenting the rituals, traditions, and culture of ancient Lanna, compiled by Phra Khru Sophon Kittiyan of Wat Sri Don Chai Sai Mun, Phrao District, Chiang Mai. Translated into 7 languages to preserve and share this cultural heritage with readers worldwide.
Table of Contents (9 Chapters)
- Preliminaries & Author’s Foreword: The True Profit of Life and the Mission to Preserve Lanna’s Vanishing Heritage The Preliminaries of "Kao Dee": Exploring the true profit of life, clerical critiques of modern hedonism, and the mission to save Lanna's oral lore.
- Chapter 1: Ritual Foundations, Sacred Trays (Khan), and the Esoteric Art of Water Libation in Ancient Lanna Explore the sacred ritual order of ancient Lanna, the symbolic hierarchy of Khan Kaew Tang Sam trays, and the esoteric practice of water libation.
- Chapter 2: The Vessantara Review: The 13 Cantos of Supreme Generosity in Lanna Tradition A comprehensive synthesis of the 13 cantos of the Vessantara Jataka, exploring the climax of generosity and its sacred role in Lanna’s Tang Tham Luang.
- Chapter 3: The Chronicle of Tang Tham Luang: Maitreya Eschatology and the Thousandfold Ritual Enclosure in Lanna Explore the history of Lanna’s Tang Tham Luang, the eschatological prophecy of Maitreya, and the 1,000-lamp ritual keyed to the 12 zodiac signs.
- Chapter 4: The Sueb Chata Ritual: Architectural Life-Extension and the Somatic Riddles of Lanna Unravel ancient Lanna’s Sueb Chata life-extension ritual: the sacred tripod architecture, somatic elements, and the 108 Triple Gem numerology.
- Chapter 5: The Unhassavichai Treatise: Escaping Calamity, Extending Lifespan, and the Celestial Miracle Discover the esoteric Unhassavichai scripture: the Buddha's miracle saving a doomed deva from hell, and Lanna's body-weight rice donation rite.
- Chapter 6: Merit for the Born and the Departed: Vital Transitions, Mindfulness of Death, and the Soot Thon Exorcism Explore ancient Lanna's death and life rites: birthday paritta origins, the Soot Thon roadside exorcism with red banners, and the mystery of Lap Luat.
- Chapter 7: The Spiritual Parents of Birth (Phi Pho Koet Mae Koet): Trans-Realm Attachment and Lanna’s 12 Astral Mothers Unravel Lanna's belief in Phi Pho Koet Mae Koet: ancestral spirit parents reclaiming children's souls, and the 12 zodiac birth mothers.
- Chapter 8: Tung Lek Tung Tong: The Metallic Banners of Deliverance, Infernal Rescue, and Funerary Metaphysics Unravel the funerary metaphysics of Lanna's Tung Lek Tung Tong: 11 elemental banners delivering souls from hell, and the casket alms bowl riddle.