Dharmachakra

Keywords : Dharmacakra, U-thong National Museum

Site common name	U-thong National Museum
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	U Thong
District	U Thong
Province	Suphan Buri
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 14.373126 Long : 99.891406
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 596139.84 N : 1589166.81
Place of artwork	In the exhibition hall

History of production	The specific age of construction is unknown, yet the Wheel can be dated back to the Dvaraviti period according to its artistic style.
Production process	Stone carving
Conservation	Found during the excavation of Stupa no. 11 in U-thong, U-thong District, Suphanburi Province
Art	This emsemble of Dharmacakra is complete, as it includes 3 parts, namely an octagonal pillar, a square socle, and a Wheel of Law. The square socle helps hold the wheel firmly on the pillar. The round wheel of law consists of 3 main components as follows: a hub, spokes, and a felloe. The spaces between spokes were cut through, and they make the Wheel look thin. The outer part of the Wheel is the felloe carved with a pattern of round flowers and rhombi. The rim of the felloe was carved with a Thai motif called Kanok which resembles flames. The triangular bottom part of the wheel serves to bear its load, and the socle below decorated with a pattern of lotus petals comes with a tenon joint which fits a mortise hole underneath the wheel. In the lower part, the square connecting block is ornamented with a pattern of round flowers and rhombi; and the four corners of the socle depict a Makara motif. The block was cut through as a mortise hole which serves to fix the wheel to the Dharmacakrastambha or the pillar. The lowest part of the octagonal pillar is a square base carved with a Hamsa motif; and on top of it, the bottom of the pillar resembles lotus petals. The top of the pillar was engraved with a pattern of flower garlands and flower tassels. The upmost part of the pillar is a top tenon for insertion into a mortise beneath the square socle.
Key academic information	Dharmacakras are unique sacred objects of the Dvaravati culture which denote the Buddha’s teachings, and mark the establishment of Buddhism within the areas. The Dharmacakra from U-thong city was found during an archaeological excavation, so it was properly recorded and well kept. The Dharmacakra ensemble consists of 3 parts, that is, a round Wheel of Law, a connecting block (socle), and a pillar. The square connecting block serves to firmly hold the pilaster and the Wheel together.
Notice	Dharmacakra is an iconic representation of Buddhist teachings.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Dvaravati
Age	12th -16th Buddhist century
Religion	Buddhism
Sect	Theravada
Religion and belief	Theravada

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-08-19
Record creator	Rungroj Thamrungraeng
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