The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist
Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of
Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths

k 2019

The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths

KUCHLEI, Štěpán

Basic information

Original name

The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths

Name in Czech

Delfín a drak: Srovnání hinduistických a buddhistických aspektů transformace lidských bytostí a živočichů – příklad metamorfózy na dvou kambodžských mýtech

Authors

KUCHLEI, Štěpán (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

13th Annual Conference of the International Association for Comparative Mythology: Mythology of Metamorphoses: Comparative & Theoretical Perspectives, Estonian Literary Museum, Tartu, Estonia June 10-13, 2019, 2019

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Presentations at conferences

Field of Study

60304 Religious studies

Country of publisher

Estonia

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/19:00110101

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords (in Czech)

Kambodža; khmerská mytologie; buddhismus; hinduismus

Keywords in English

Cambodia; Khmer mythology; Buddhism; Hinduism

Abstract

In the original language

In my paper, I would like to analyse the “dragon” features in the Cambodian Buddhist ordaining ceremony and explain how this type of metamorphosis serves as a model of spiritual growth. This will be illustrated by the example of the legendary narrative about a dragon who wanted to become a Buddhist monk and compared with two other versions of Khmer human/animal transformation legends dealing with the origin of the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris, in Khmer ph’sout), living in Cambodia in the northern part of Mekong River. In south of Cambodia people believe them to be mythical creatures already, similar to dragons. Dragons themselves play a crucial role in legends all over the world, and in Cambodia, which is predominantly a Buddhist country with Hindu ancestry and long observed traditions, is no different, for it is the dragon princess who can be considered the principal hero of the Cambodian creation myth. The dragon has also its place in many other traditional tales and legends dated back to different periods of Cambodian history, and even until modern times the Khmer people remind themselves the importance of the dragon symbol in the religious ordaining ceremony. This is because the word that Khmer language uses for “a dragon” also refers to a future monk before the initiation – neak, bombonous neak, “the ordained dragon” (which comes from a traditional folk story). I decided to compare Hindu and Buddhist aspects of a human/animal transformation on an example of metamorphosis in two Cambodian myths, showing a connection of Male and Female features, resulting into correlation of the Earth and Water, furthermore on a dissimilar level as an affiliation between a Human and a Mythological creature, leading to Land of nowadays and consequentially into Khmers, Descendants of this link.

Links

MUNI/A/1053/2018, interní kód MU

Name: Nové výzkumné metody v religionistickém výzkumu (Acronym: NOVYMREV)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Cite

KUCHLEI, Štěpán. The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths. In 13th Annual Conference of the International Association for Comparative Mythology: Mythology of Metamorphoses: Comparative & Theoretical Perspectives, Estonian Literary Museum, Tartu, Estonia June 10-13, 2019. 2019.

@proceedings{1544696,
   author = {Kuchlei, Štěpán},
   booktitle = {13th Annual Conference of the International Association for Comparative Mythology: Mythology of Metamorphoses: Comparative & Theoretical Perspectives, Estonian Literary Museum, Tartu, Estonia June 10-13, 2019},
   keywords = {Cambodia; Khmer mythology; Buddhism; Hinduism},
   language = {eng},
   title = {The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths},
   url = {http://www.compmyth.org/13th-conference/},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - CONF
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AU  - Kuchlei, Štěpán
PY  - 2019
TI  - The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths
KW  - Cambodia
KW  - Khmer mythology
KW  - Buddhism
KW  - Hinduism
UR  - http://www.compmyth.org/13th-conference/
L2  - http://www.compmyth.org/13th-conference/
N2  - In my paper, I would like to analyse the “dragon” features in the Cambodian Buddhist ordaining ceremony and explain how this type of metamorphosis serves as a model of spiritual growth. This will be illustrated by the example of the legendary narrative about a dragon who wanted to become a Buddhist monk and compared with two other versions of Khmer human/animal transformation legends dealing with the origin of the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris, in Khmer ph’sout), living in Cambodia in the northern part of Mekong River. In south of Cambodia people believe them to be mythical creatures already, similar to dragons. Dragons themselves play a crucial role in legends all over the world, and in Cambodia, which is predominantly a Buddhist country with Hindu ancestry and long observed traditions, is no different, for it is the dragon princess who can be considered the principal hero of the Cambodian creation myth. The dragon has also its place in many other traditional tales and legends dated back to different periods of Cambodian history, and even until modern times the Khmer people remind themselves the importance of the dragon symbol in the religious ordaining ceremony. This is because the word that Khmer language uses for “a dragon” also refers to a future monk before the initiation – neak, bombonous neak, “the ordained dragon” (which comes from a traditional folk story). I decided to compare Hindu and Buddhist aspects of a human/animal transformation on an example of metamorphosis in two Cambodian myths, showing a connection of Male and Female features, resulting into correlation of the Earth and Water, furthermore on a dissimilar level as an affiliation between a Human and a Mythological creature, leading to Land of nowadays and consequentially into Khmers, Descendants of this link.
ER  -

KUCHLEI, Štěpán. The Dolphin and the Dragon: Comparing Hindu and Buddhist Aspects of a Human/Animal Transformation - An example of Metamorphosis in Two Cambodian Myths. In \textit{13th Annual Conference of the International Association for Comparative Mythology: Mythology of Metamorphoses: Comparative \&{} Theoretical Perspectives, Estonian Literary Museum, Tartu, Estonia June 10-13, 2019}. 2019.

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