THE PRESERVATION OF RELIGIOUS VALUES THROUGH BUDDHA IMAGES AT WORLD ...

192 Pages·2012·14.28 MB·English

by  Silpakorn University

SPIRIT AND PLACE: THE PRESERVATION OF RELIGIOUS VALUES
THROUGH BUDDHA IMAGES AT WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THAILAND

By
Poramet Boonnumsirikij

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism
(International Program)
Graduate School
SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY
2011
SPIRIT AND PLACE: THE PRESERVATION OF RELIGIOUS VALUES
THROUGH BUDDHA IMAGES AT WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THAILAND

By
Poramet Boonnumsirikij

A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism
(International Program)
Graduate School
SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY
2011
The Graduate school, Silpakorn University has approved and accredited the
Thesis title of “Spirit and Place: The Preservation of Religious Values through
Buddha Images at World Heritage Sites in Thailand” submitted by Mr. Poramet
Boonnumsirikij as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism.

……………………………………….
(Assistant Professor Panjai Tantatsanawong, Ph.D.)
Dean of Graduate School
……../………….../………..

The Thesis Advisor
Professor William Chapman, Ph.D.

The Thesis Examination Committee

………………………………………Chairman
(Professor Emeritus Trungjai Buranasomphob, Ph.D.)
………/……………....../……….

………………………………………Member
(Assistant Professor Pibul Jinawat, Ph.D.)
………/……………....../……….

………………………………………Member
(Professor William Chapman, Ph.D.)
………/……………....../……….
50056955 : MAJOR : ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND
TOURISM
KEY WORD: PRESERVATION/INTANGIBLE HERITAGE
PORAMET BOONNUMSIRIKIJ : SPIRIT AND PLACE : THE
PRESERVATION OF RELIGIOUS VALUES THROUGH BUDDHA IMAGES AT
WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN THAILAND. THESIS ADVISOR : PROF.
WILLIAM CHAPMAN, Ph.D., 179 pp.

In Thailand many of the most significant images of Buddha can be found at
World Heritage Sites such as Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Historical Park. The values of
the Buddhist image are not only artifacts or antiques but also the symbols of
Buddhists’ worship to Buddhism. The process of creating and upholding Buddha’s
image involves many steps, for example the utilization of craft arts and consecration
ceremonies in order to produce a beautiful statue or monument that is highly
respected for many centuries. Therefore, the history of Buddha image art was
reviewed.
The deterioration of the Buddha image like other artifacts can occur for many
reasons and restoration work has to be done. Meanwhile the preservation bodies of
international organizations such as UNESCO and state parties like the Fine Arts
Department of the Royal Thai Government have been issued and developed
regulation. There are charters to follow, specifically the preservation of World
Heritage sites. Most of them mention only the exterior values, while the spiritual
value of the heritage is forgotten. From the re-examination of these criteria, they are
totally separated to the tangible heritage which mostly cannot fit to the Asian context,
including the Buddha image. This dissertation recommends the need to preserve the
spirit value or intangible values inside the tangible heritage monuments and sites, and
that the draft of the Thai Charter should be adopted and explored by the international
bodies of preservation.
Moreover, the restoration and preservation of these icons currently uses the
‘Cultural Process’ from the Fine Art Department in Thailand. The process mainly
starts with research from archeologists and arts historians. However, the knowledge
management process is more effective and can reduce the steps in the ‘Cultural
Process’. It can utilize the international organizations’ knowledge and use the local
community to collaborate and figure out the proper management plan and process of
restoration for the image of Buddha. The study’s final goal is to create a new vision of
‘Cultural Process’ that will provide a better solution for the future preservation
management of the Buddhist icon.

Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism Graduate School, Silpakorn University Academic Year 2011
Student’s signature …………………………
Thesis Advisor’s signature ………………………..
c
Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the contribution from the following individual from
their support, advice, and help to complete this dissertation. First of all I would like to
dedicate my father to the role model of being architect, my mother for instilling me to
read and my younger sister to push me to learn since I was young. All of the family
members have been supported and inspired me for everything without limitation.
The most important to complete my dissertation have to appreciated to my
supervisor, Professor Dr. William Chapman, for all his suggest many of text books to
read, key persons to meet, valuable comments from all chapters from day one to the
finishing date with his kindness and professional. Another person that have been
supported and advised since I was entering this program, Professor Emeritus Dr.
Trngjai Buranasomphob who is also the chairman of examiner and Ms. Thienrat
Sakasuparerk, the program coordinator in order to remind me in every progresses.
And thanks all classmates to give good advice.
The unforgettable thank for financial supporting me to study in this program to
Dr Vollop Suwandee, the president of Kasem Bundit University, Dr. Senee
Suwandee, vice president of Kasem Bundit University, Dr. Jesada Angabsri, the
director of Human Resources, Assistant Professor Dr. Amnuay Suwannakitborihan,
dean of Liberal Arts. Thank all my colleagues and friends for the moral support and
special thank to Dr.Napasanan Vinijworakijkul, Dr. Chaleamkert Fuengkeaw, and Dr.
Sutsan Sutipisan for the good suggestion and valuable advice.
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Table of Contents
Page
Abstract ........................................................................................................................ c
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... d
List of Figure ................................................................................................................ h
Chapter
1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
The context................................................................................................. 1
Rationale of the Study ................................................................................ 2
Objective of the Study ................................................................................ 11
Scope of the Study ...................................................................................... 12
Research Methodology ............................................................................... 12
2 Review Buddha Images and Art History ......................................................... 14
Concept of construction of Buddha image .................................................. 14
Sculpture definition and process ................................................................. 15
Anatomical of Buddha image ..................................................................... 16
The Process of Molding and Casting Buddha Image ................................... 17
First Buddha image of the world ................................................................. 19
Characteristics and postures of the Buddha image....................................... 20
Historical period and art style of Buddha image in Thailand ....................... 28
Dvaravati style ........................................................................................... 28
Srivijaya Style ............................................................................................ 30
Lopburi or Khmer style .............................................................................. 32
Chiang Saen of Lanna Style ........................................................................ 34
Sukhothai style ........................................................................................... 37
U-Thong style ............................................................................................ 40
Ayutthaya ................................................................................................... 41
Rattanakosin Style ...................................................................................... 49
Summary .................................................................................................... 52
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Page
3 Review the Conceptual of Preservation ........................................................... 53
Preface ....................................................................................................... 53
Conceptual of the preservation for the Heritage Monument and Sites ......... 54
The UNESCO World Heritage ................................................................... 55
Reviewing Other Preservation or Conservation Charters and Principles as
National and Regional Levels ............................................................ 59
Principle of preservation in cultural heritage in Thailand ............................ 65
The preservation of the Intangible Heritage ................................................ 67
Authenticity with spiritual value ................................................................. 68
Summary .................................................................................................... 77
4 Deterioration the Cultural Heritage Sites ......................................................... 79
Deterioration of Cultural Heritage Sites ...................................................... 79
From Nature ............................................................................................... 80
Weather ...................................................................................................... 80
From Disaster ............................................................................................. 82
From Biology ............................................................................................. 87
From Plants and Micro-organic .................................................................. 87
From Animals ............................................................................................ 91
From Human .............................................................................................. 91
Not from Human Intention ......................................................................... 92
From Human Intention ............................................................................... 97
Summary ................................................................................................... 111
5 The Preservation and Restoration Buddha Image in Thailand World Heritage
Sites ................................................................................................................. 112
Buddha image restoration in the Thailand World Heritage Sites ................ 112
Phra Acana at Wat Si Chum ...................................................................... 113
Phra Mongkhon Bophit at Vihàra Mongkhon Bophit ................................. 129
Phra Kantararaj at Wat Na Phra Men ......................................................... 138
Summary of the restoration the heritage Buddha images ............................ 142
Private sector of restoration of Buddha image ............................................ 142

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Page
6 Developing the Framework of Preservation Buddha Image through the Use
of Knowledge Management........................................................................... 144
Preface ...................................................................................................... 144
The definition of knowledge management ................................................. 147
The different between data, information, knowledge and wisdom .............. 148
Key factors of knowledge management ..................................................... 151
The outcome of knowledge management ................................................... 153
The benefit of knowledge management...................................................... 153
7 Conclusion and Recommendation .................................................................. 155
Preface ...................................................................................................... 155
The principle and regulation of cultural preservation ................................. 155
The Process of Preservation of Buddha Image ........................................... 157
Recommendation for further research ........................................................ 159
Literary Review ........................................................................................................... 162
Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 164
Autobiography ............................................................................................................. 178

g
List of Figures
Figure Page
1 Map of Thailand presents the location of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya ................... 4
2 Perspective picture of Sukhothai ancient town ................................................... 6
3 The first stone inscription of Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng the Great of
Sukhothai ................................................................................................... 7
4 Picture of Ayutthaya Historic City ..................................................................... 8
5 Map of Ayutthaya Historic City ........................................................................ 9
6 The example of diagram of shape and form to sculpture the Buddha image
from the sculpture Buddha image book written in the reign of King
Rama III of Rattanakosin Dynasty .............................................................. 17
7 Gold coin with image of BuddhaKu ṣā ṇa dynasty. Kanishka found at
Ahin Posh, Afghanistan.............................................................................. 20
8 Image of Visarana pose or half lotus posture ..................................................... 21
9 Image of European style or western fashion....................................................... 21
10 Image of Vajrasana pose or full lotus posture .................................................... 22
11 Image of Contrapposto posture .......................................................................... 22
12 Image of regular Standing Buddha image .......................................................... 23
13 Image of walking Buddha image posture ........................................................... 23
14 Image of reclining Buddha image posture .......................................................... 24
15 Buddha image in Dhyana Mudra ....................................................................... 25
16 Buddha image in Bhumisparsa Mudra ............................................................... 25
17 Buddha image in Abhaya Mudra ....................................................................... 26
18 Buddha image in Vitarka Mudra ........................................................................ 27
19 Buddha image in Varada Mudra ........................................................................ 27
20 Dvaravati standing Buddha image with two hands displaying Vitarka Mudra .... 30
21 Srivijaya Budda image fragment of a once complete statue................................ 31
22 Lopburi Standing Buddha image in the gesture of Calming the Ocean ............... 33
23 Sitting Buddha image, with the gesture of Subduing Mara. In the style of
the Chiang Saen period found at Wat Sawang Arom Muang Thung
Yang, Uttaradit province ............................................................................ 36
h
Page
24 Sukhothai Standing Buddha image as called Phra Attharos at Wat Saphan
Hin ............................................................................................................. 38
25 Bronze Buddha image in Subduing Mara posture, U-Thong Style from
15th Century .............................................................................................. 41
26 Bronze Buddha image constructed early Ayutthaya U thong I style in 1422 ...... 44
27 Head of bronze Buddha image “Phra Thammikarat” early Ayutthaya U-
Thong II style currently located at Chao Sam Phraya Museum ................... 45
28 Buddha image “Phra Mongkhon Bophit” Middle Ayutthaya-
Suphannapoom period constructed in 1538 located in Vihàra
Mongkhon Bophit, Ayutthaya province ...................................................... 46
29 Late Ayutthaya-Prassattong Buddha image in subduing Mara posture in
the king ornamentations signify the power of the king ................................ 48
30 Buddha image late Ayutthaya style Ayutthaya-Banpuluang located in
Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok .................................................. 49
31 Phra Nirantarai Rattanakosin style ..................................................................... 50
32 Sitting Buddha image with the gesture of Subduing Mara “Rachakan” style. ..... 51
33 The World Heritage Site inscription process ...................................................... 58
34 World Heritage Emblem .................................................................................... 59
35 The diagram of the cultural process on preserve, protect and prevent for
Thai Cultural Heritage Monuments and Sites ............................................. 66
36 Borobudur Temple Compounds marvel of stone standing in the garden
landscape near Yogyakarta, Indonesia the Buddhist heritage site in
predominantly Muslim context ................................................................... 72
37 Lumbini at the present day, houses the pond where Buddha was bathed
after he was born and a temple which has images of young Buddha
with his mother .......................................................................................... 74
38 An empty niche remains where a 53-meter Buddha sandstone cliffs and
pictured in inserted overlooked Bamiyan Buddha image ............................ 76
39 Top of Chedi, heritage site in the northern of Thailand was collapsed from
the earthquake on March 29, 2011 .............................................................. 84

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