The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

Keywords : Prasat Muang Singh, Muang Singh, Bodhisattva, King Jayavarman VII , Bayon, Lopburi, khmer art in Thailand, The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

Site common name	Bangkok National Museum
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
District	Khet Phra Nakhon
Province	Bangkok
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 13.7576 Long : 100.492222
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 661329.97 N : 1521418.09
Place of artwork	Inside Bangkok National Museum

History of production	There is no evidence related to the origin. However, its characteristic in Khmer Arts, Bayon style suggests that it was built around the 18^th century B.E. in the reign of King Jayavarman VII. Some historians identify the site with Srichaiya Singhapura mentioned in Preah Khan Inscription where Jaya Buddha mahanart were sent to by King Jayavarman VII. If the above assumptions are true, it can justify the close relationship between MueangPhra Nakhon and Mueang Sing. It can also be questioned whether it is possible that the sculpture of the radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was built in MueangPhra Nakhon then sent to Mueang Sing along with Jaya Buddha mahanart.
Production process	Carved sandstone
Size	161 centimeters high
Art	The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is standing on a square base. Its condition is complete except for the 8 hands that are missing. The sculpture has a square face, closed eyes, with the corners of the mouth lifted slightly as in Khmer Arts, Bayon style. The hair is put up in a cylinder shape and the hair is decorated with the image of Amitabha Buddha and many other Buddha images. The upper part of the body is decorated with rows of Buddha images that looks like armor. There is a large image of a person in the middle of the chest and the waist and they might refer to Prachya Paramita. All 8 hands are missing. The image wears shorts with roughly engraved pattern. His lower body from the thigh to the feet is in disproportion. Every toe has on a ring.
Key academic information	Though the hands of this Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva are missing, the overall condition is still complete. This is the sculpture in Khmer Arts, Bayon style aged between the 18^th century B.E. It was discovered at Prasat Mueang Sing, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi province. This evidence displays a close relationship between the western territories of Thailand and Cambodia in the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It also shows the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in Thailand.
Notice	Found in Mueang Sing, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi province
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Lopburi, Khmer Art in Thailand, Bayon
Age	18th century B.E.
Sect	Mahayana
Religion and belief	Mahayana Buddhism
Legend	Mahayana Buddhism. The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was created from the belief that he is the greatest one of the universes, the universe that is inside its body. The greatness is displayed by rows of Buddha images all over the top part of the body and the head.
Related artwork	1. The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva from Sa Kosinarai Archaeological Site Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi province. 2. The radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva from Khuha Sawan cave, Mueang district, Lopburi province

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-09-30
Record creator	Rungroj Thamrungraeng
Bibliography	ฟิโนต์, หลุยส์. “พระโพธิสัตว์เปล่ารัศมี” แปลโดย หม่อมเจ้าสุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, ศิลปากร ปีที่ 10, ฉบับที่ 2 (กรกฎาคม 2509), หน้า 46-51. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ประติมากรรมขอม. กรุงเทพฯ : กรุงสยามการพิมพ์, 2515. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล. ศิลปะขอม. กรุงเทพฯ : องค์การค้าของคุรุสภา, 2533. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ศิลปะสมัยลพบุรี. กรุงเทพฯ : มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2547.