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Arts in Southeast Asia Database
ArchitecturePainting of the Mahayana Buddha and Bodhisattva
The composition of this painting is written on a dark blue background with a curved and spiked frame. There are five Buddha sitting in rows inside the frame. Each Buddha wears dark color almost red, oblique and no streak robe. There is a small strip Samghati, from the left shoulder to the belly. The face and body are gold-plated. Above the head, there is a gold-plated flame halo with no urna which is an important symbol of royal intention Buddha images of King Rama IV. All Buddha are dhyana mudra (also called the samadhi mudra) on lotus base that support by singha base inside the glass curved arch. At the end of arch looks like hawk face beside. The middle crest is a Kranok pattern similar to the straight head naga. Top of the arch decorate by Bodhi tree, surround with frame Kranok pattern. This is the style of royal intention Buddha images arch of King Rama IV too. Under the base of each Buddha has a golden Khom alphabet on the red background.Above five Buddhas, there is a shining urna over the lotus. The center of urna has Khom alphabet. Under the lotus has Khom alphabet on red background. ฺBelow Buddhas are five persons who dress like an angel. Everyone wears jewelry that is gilded : crown with ears decorate, necklace, breast chain, bracelet. Wear striped paint cloth with two layers seam, golden anklet and shoes. Stand on the platform with cloth inside the arch which is similar to Buddhas arch without bodhi. Under each platform has golden Khom alphabet on red background, along with chicken, naga, turtle, cow and lion.All these paintings are related to the Mahayana belief. Because the alphabets that appear under each Buddha are : “Vairochana” “Akshobhya” “Ratnasambhava” “Amitabha” และ “Amogasiddhi” in order from left to right. This name corresponds to the Khom alphabets under the urna and above the paintings of the Buddha which read “Dhyani Buddhas” The Khom alphabets that are under the paintings of five person who dresses like angels are : “Samantabhadra” “Vajrapani” “Ratnapani” “Pattamapani” and “Vishvapani”. So, it corresponds to the paintings of each Dhyani Buddhas that have Bodhisattva below. And believe that animals below of each Bodhisattva are the symbol of the five Buddhas who enlighten in the earth. The urna that appears on top, there is three Khom alphabets inside which read : A U Ma or Ohm. It is the worship words of God in accordance with the belief in ancient Brahman. It is interesting that it was written above the text and images of Dhyani Buddhas, which is a subject in Buddhism.
ArchitectureBodhikhara
Some of the places where Bodhi trees enshrined have base around. There is a singha base in the square diagram. The wall is made of Chinese glazed tile and the stairs would have only one or four sides. There are some buildings that surround the Bodhi Tree, called the Bodhikhara, such as Wat Pathum Wanaram And Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, the Bodhikhara has square diagram. It has wall on ridges of the roof and leave the center area to allow the Bodhi Tree to grow.
ArchitectureWat Thongnoppakun’s ubosot
The ubosot is a Thai traditional building, masonry Building. The roof is stacked layers wood with tiles. The gable decorate with gable apex, bairaka, Haghgss and posture of Naga. It is assumed that the work was in post King Rama III reign. There are more decorative decorations that use symbols, which were characteristic of the reign of King Rama IV. The gable of ubosot has two layers, the upper layer is Tripitaka on phan(tray with pedestal) flanked by the candlestick. The lower layer decorate with angels sculpture. It maybe consistent with the painting inside the temple depicting the Tripitaka. The ubosot has three entrance doors, the center is crown shape. Another two is castle shape. The center window is crown shape. Another two which is flank is fan of ranks shape.
SculpturePhra Buddha mahaloka phinantha patima
Phra Buddha mahaloka phinantha patima has a unique form of Buddha image that created in the reign of King Rama III, that is slim body, quite round, semi-oval face, small knot hair, flame halo, bent eyebrows, almond-eyed, curves mouth curves almost straight, puppet face, Urna supports the halo, squat in Subduing Mara pose, equal four fingers and wear oblique robe without streak.
PaintingThe painting of Mahosot Jataka
The stories featured in the wall painting are traditional tales such as the life of Lord Buddha, The Gathering of Devas Jataka, and Buddhist Cosmology. However, there is evidence of Western influences in the form of realistic style of painting in each scene in the buildings and the livelihood of people. The painting also reflected the traditional technique of depiction of the royalties through the Ramayana’s like style of humans, both for male and female characters with the glid on top of them. The darker color background also drives the pictures of the Palace, households and humans to stand out in the dimensional way.
SculpturePhra Mahajanaka Buddha
The Buddha Image is placed on top of the plaster base in the Subduing Mara gesture. The body is covered by the the flowered yellow robe with other decorations such as the multi-tiered conical diadem crown similar to Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut featuring 3-tier of diadem, each tier is decorated with moving flowers, the ear gears, necklace, rings, armlaces, pahurats, and sandals. The face is in the calm emotion, eyes down, curvy eyebrows, little smile at the mouth. Overall, the statue reflected the art traits of Rattanakosin arts.
SculptureThe crown-topped Busabok Pulpit
The crown-topped Busabok is consist of the base, the middle part and the top part. The base is in the Singha style with additional corners with the large piece of wood in the front for the monk to get to the pulpit. The middle part is penetrated with the recessing corners (12-piece) at all four corners. The top part of Busabok has the details similar to the details of Phra Maha Pichai Mongkut (Great Crown of Victory, the Coronation crown of Thailand) featuring the 3-tier of diadem, each tier is decorated with moving flowers. Above it is the funnel.
PaintingThe Painting of the Royal 12-month Ceremonies
The powder-color painting used the western techniques that taking into account the principles of visualization which make the paintings seems dimensional both farway and close-up. The pictures of the buildings within the palace is used as the background while the people’s households, the costumes of the people, military men, the nobilities and the villagers are in line with the contemporary style of the period.
