CONCEPTUAL METAPHOR OF LIFE AS A WATER JOURNEY IN FORTUNE STICK TEXTS OF FIRST-CLASS ROYAL TEMPLES IN THE LOWER NORTHERN REGION OF THAILAND

Abstract

This research investigates the conceptual metaphor “LIFE AS A WATER JOURNEY” in siamsi fortune verses collected from first-class royal temples in the lower northern region of Thailand. Drawing upon the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the study examines the relationship between language, thought, and worldview. The data consist of 56 purposefully selected siamsi verses. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study utilizes content analysis and conceptual mapping to examine the mapping between the source and target domains, metaphorical elements, and conceptual relationships within the texts. The findings reveal that the metaphor “LIFE AS A WATER JOURNEY” is systematically constructed through key components, including the boat, the rower, the water, the current, wind waves, and the destination. These elements represent human identity, the process of living, obstacles, uncertainty, and success or fulfilment. The metaphor reflects a Buddhist worldview emphasizing impermanence (Anicca), existence under the law of causality, and the acceptance of uncontrollable conditions, highlighting human vulnerability amidst the currents of fate and life’s changes. The results suggest that siamsi functions not merely as a tool for divination, but as a cultural discourse that constructs and transmits conceptual frameworks of life through a dynamic metaphorical system. These findings hold both theoretical and cultural significance, as they expand the body of knowledge regarding conceptual metaphors in Thai religious discourse and demonstrate the role of language in shaping perceptions, interpretations, and the meanings attributed to life experiences within Thai society.