Buddha image

There is no documentary evidence mentioning about this Buddha image, however it is related to the early Lan Na Buddha images or Chiang Saen Singha Nueng by its style. Hence, it is dated in the same period which is around the 20^th Buddhist century.

Stucco

It was discovered inside the chest of the main Buddha image of Wat Phrapai Luang, Muang district, Sukhothai province.

The Buddha image is damaged in many parts that it cannot be detected of which manner and attitude it was originally made. As it is a high relief sculpture, it is believed that the image was used to decorate a religious place attached to the wall.

It has a round face with arched eyebrows and pointed nose. The eyes are gazing down. The lips are fairly well-proportioned, though curvy-shaped like a wave. The hair is tightly curled into finer small curls. Usanisa (cranial bump) is swelling high. The halo on top of the head is damaged and missing. The image has prominent chest with the robe worn across the body, no drapery folds. The outer robe is small and short only above the breast. The edged is folded in many layers and this is known as centipede fangs.

This Buddha image part was discovered at Wat Phrapai Luang, Sukhothai province. It is actually a temple under the infuence of Khmer culture, however the style of the Buddha image is more related to Lan Na or Chiang Saen Singha Nueng; this apprarently indicates the religious and cultural relations between Sukhothai and Lan Na and might be the evidence of religious changes at Wat Phrapai Luang from Mahayana Buddhism same as Khmer to Theravada-Langkawong Buddhism that was widespread in Sukhothai and Lan Na.

Sakchai Saisingha. Buddha Images in Thailand : Styles, Development, and Thai’s Beliefs. Bangkok : Art History Department Faculty of Archaeology Silpakorn University, 2556.

Santi Leksukhum. Research Report of Stucco Materials from Wat Phrapai Luang Sukhothai province during 2528-2529 BE. Bangkok : Faculty of Archaeology Silpakorn University, 2530.