สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Û ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ú ‡¡.¬.-¡‘ .¬. ÚıÙ¯ 357 Lertsiri Bovornkitti spreading Buddhism. The strong characteristics of early Thai architec- ture reflect its Buddhist themes and elements, and are seen in holy buil- dings such as palaces and temples. The early city of Sukhothai (figure 1) includes a large concentration of monastic buildings such as a meeting hall (vihan) , a hall for the ordination of monks (ubosoth) and stupa (jedi) containing relics or holy images. These were built for Buddhist uses and filled with Buddhist elements. For instance, a stupa was built outside the walls of Sukhothai to house a colossal thirteenth-century plaster image of the Buddha Maravijaya Phra Achana. Whilst Buddhism so directly influenced Thai architecture, it has nevertheless developed a form that is uniquely Thai and continued this development from era to era with a similar focus on visual Buddhist identity. As with architecture, Thai sculpture grew out of Buddhism. In Thai history, Buddhist elements such as the three-dimensional image of the Buddha have been a key subject of representation. Buddha imagery was a primary motif in Buddhist iconography and the earliest form of Buddha imagery was in sculptural form. The sculpting of Buddha statues has been practised since the beginnings of Thai history and the making of Buddha statues has been highly significant in all Buddhist cultures. Sculptures and relief works were produced exten- sively from early in the twelfth century AD. Figure 2 Buddha image at Wat Phraya Phu, Nan Province, 1426 AD, shows the influence of Sukhothai high classic style. It has been a general impression that diverse art styles pre-existing in the region contributed to the forma- tion of Thai art during the Sukhothai Period. Early in that period, the Thai Buddha belonged to the Mon-Khmer hybrid style. From the fourteenth century, one can begin to recognise a style of sculpture in Buddha statues that developed into the high classic Sukhothai style; for example, the Buddha image in the fourteenth century (figure 2). Figure 3 High classic style Buddha image in bronze, fifteenth century AD, Sukhothai. This Buddha image appears elongated and dominated by a curvelinear form, the shape being similar to the S-shape of the historical Western aesthetic form in classical Greek art. The classical Greek art is highly regarded for its splendid idealised human sculptural forms that suggested by curve-line as seen in most Greek statues. Another similar form is seen in the fifteenth century Buddha statue, made of bronze with red lacquer and traces of gilding