A royal Chinese Buddhist funeral rite combining centuries-old tradition with intricate craftsmanship was held on 23 April at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, as Their Majesties the King and Queen attended a gongtek ceremony for the royal funeral of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.
Members of the royal family also accompanied the ceremony, which was conducted by Chinese Buddhist monastics as part of the royal funeral rites.
The gongtek ceremony is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition of merit-making for the deceased, in which monks chant prayers while symbolic paper offerings—such as houses, vehicles and possessions—are burned, believed to provide comfort and prosperity in the afterlife.
Although rooted in Chinese tradition, the rite has long been incorporated into Thai royal funeral ceremonies, dating back to at least the reign of King Rama IV, and has since become part of royal cremation customs.
For this royal funeral, the Chinese monastic community prepared elaborate and highly detailed paper offerings reflecting the life and legacy of the Queen Mother.
Among the most notable creations was a miniature representation of Chitralada Royal Villa, complete with palace attendants, police guards and court officials. The paper figures included 17 attendants dressed in working uniforms, carefully arranged to reflect real palace life.
A striking detail was the inclusion of a paper figure representing Pierre Balmain, the renowned French fashion designer and founder of the Balmain fashion house, who had once designed many of the Queen Mother’s iconic royal garments.
The offerings also included a royal vehicle with a driver, as well as symbolic items such as gold and silver treasuries, mountain-shaped offerings, and ceremonial wealth chests.
Additional paper garments were crafted to replicate well-remembered Thai silk outfits associated with the Queen Mother, reflecting her long-standing role as a cultural icon and patron of Thai textiles.
Organisers said the ceremonial works were created using traditional paper craftsmanship techniques, with contributions from Chinese Buddhist disciples nationwide, as an expression of gratitude and devotion to the late Queen Mother.
The ceremony reflected both spiritual belief and cultural continuity, symbolising respect for the deceased while highlighting more than 150 years of Chinese Buddhist monastic presence under the Thai monarchy.
