แนวจริยปฏิบัติในงานวรรณศิลป์ในประชุมจารึกวัดพระเชตุพนฯ / ธนอร อัศวงค์ = Ethical-practice in literary works of Wat Phra Chetuphon inscriptions / Tanaon Adsawong
This thesis aims at studying contents of didactic literature inscribed on stone slabs at Wat Phra Chetuphon in terms of their ethical practices and literary methods that affect the way these practices are presented. The research has found that didactic literature inscribed on stone slabs at Wat Phra Chetuphon consist mainly of nine literary works, namely Niriyakatha, Petakatha, Chan Wannaprut, Chan Matraprut, Chan Asdapanorn, Krisna Sorn Nong Kham Chan, Chan Pali Sorn Nong, Rai Suphasit Phra Ruang and Klong Lokaniti. The contents of these works present principles in teaching ethical practices to people of all social levels from the ruling class— monarchs, members of the royal family, noblemen and government officials, and a special class - clergy men, to commoners of both men and women. As related to each social class, there are ethical practices for family members, for other people in society and those used as guidelines in daily routine. For an overall image, didactic lessons for all social levels in Thai society will emphasize the conduct adhering to Buddhist principles, which will contribute a great deal to the way of living and co-habiting in society. Another part of the research has found that techniques of composition play a very important role in teaching ethical practices. The techniques used to present these works are both prose and poetry. The style is mainly a sermon style, with narrative, descriptive and interrogative modes sparsely used. Besides, the artistic use of words is also interesting since it affects how the meanings of words are relayed as well as creates an aesthetic value in sounds through the choice of alliterations, assonances, repetitions, word redundancies and word selections. The art of writing stirs aestheticism in readers and listeners, which in turn makes the didactic lessons more interesting. It helps them understand abstractions and facilitate their memorization of the lessons so that they can apply what they have been taught to their daily life.
