Abstract:
Research on the Structure and Agency of Wat Bang Hua Suea amulet network in Pha Pradaeng District, Samutprakan Province is the qualitative research. Research objectives 1) To study development and changes of Wat Bang Hua Suea amulets. and 2) To study structure and agency related to Wat Bang Hua Suea amulet network. The research method is to collect data from documents, Wat Bang Hua Suea amulets, and field visiting by researcher using oral history interviews, in-depth interviews, participant observations, and focus group discussions. There are 5 reliable target groups which are totally 15 informants. Then researcher examined the data, analyzed and interpreted it which leading to present the research results in a descriptive and analytical manner. Researcher divided this research into 3 eras which are The early era of Wat Bang Hua Suea (2370-2505 B.E.), The era of community infrastructure development (2505-2529 B.E.) and the era of temple in the trend of industrial city and technology (2530-2567 B.E.), in which the research results found that 1) The results of the study development and changes of Wat Bang Hua Suea amulets in various eras consist of 5 aspects, which are the purpose of creation, the production process, the characteristics of the consecration ceremony, the types of amulets, and the images on the amulets. This is a result of the adaptation of the monks who are the amulet makers to the context of the area and the changing structural factors, along with the adoption of commemorative coins concept, photographic and coin making technologies from Western countries. 2) The results of the study structure related to Wat Bang Hua Suea amulet cover five structures, which are political structure, economics and social structure, religious structure, educational institution, and mass communication & technological structure. It shows the changes and developments of the structure in study area, which is consistent with the division of eras used in the research. The early era of Wat Bang Hua Suea, all aspects of the structure were not yet developed and entered to the study area. Therefore, the temple was like the center of a community with few residents. The people lived a self-sufficient life by farming and making sugar from coconut. The era of community infrastructure development, It was a period of infrastructure development which resulting in more prosperity, and having more convenience. The temple became a religious organization and its role was reduced and transferred to other structures. The era of temple in the trend of industrial city and technology, The overall condition of the area is almost entirely an industrial city with dense population. The temple becomes a legal entity. Moreover, the information and communication system covers all area through mobile phone technology and the Internet. While the agency can divided into 4 groups. 1. The group of amulet makers, They have the most adaptation in social practice affect from the structural changes. They are capable of thinking strategies or tricks in order to counter the structural conditions in each era. By they use amulets as a tool to inherit the age of religion according to beliefs then transformed into a tool for maintaining peace, a tool for recording history and important events, an exchange product, a souvenir, a tool supporting making merit strategy, and a tool for generating income for the temple, respectively. 2. The group of amulet users, They have a little adaptation in terms of roles. Therefore, there is continuity in the use of amulets hanging on the necklace in order to pray or worship with hope that amulets will help in accordance with the objectives and needs of each individual which has been changing all the time. Moreover, Wat Bang Hua Suea amulets have become a part of everyday life. Later, amulets began to be used as collectibles and trades. 3. The group of amulet manufacturers has adapted in terms of business from a household industry to a large-scale industry. They have proactive marketing by selling amulet products and other sacred objects directly to monks or amulet makers. 4. Supporter groups played the most important role in the era of temple in the trend of industrial city and technology, resulting in the integration of social group. This network can result in having the power to negotiate and influence the amulet makers in terms of the amulet's design, the number of amulets in each model, the purpose of the making amulet or even the form of the consecration ceremony. Therefore, this social group has a opportunity to grow its power to negotiate with the temple regarding the temple's affairs in the future.