สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Vol. 30 No. 2 Apr.-Jun. 2005 358 The Influence of Buddhism in Historical Thai Art that is regarded as the classic Thai historical sculpture style (figure 3). The Sukhothai Buddha image indicates that there was a serious integration of aesthetic formwith the spiritualism of Buddhist sculpture. In summary, early Thai art style has its origins in Buddhismwithin the development of the Thai state and its emerging culture. Thai architecture, sculpture and paintings, all have their roots in the Buddhist art of this early phase, and Thai objects and artefacts have been associated with this interaction of religion and art. Accordingly, early Buddhist tablets and amulets are evidence of historical art practice. Whilst Buddhism is now the state religion in Thailand, and the identity of the nation has been based on the two sanctified institutions, Buddhism and the Thai monarchy, in an historical Thai context, the original role of Thai art during the period from the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries was to show devotion to Buddhism alone, by displaying its sanctity and religious content for the purposes of teaching and spreading the belief. Through its preoccupation with Buddhist elements, with serving the Thai monarchy and with the emerging historical and cultural identity of its people, Thai art developed into a unique original style. Thai art historians refer to art forms that are genuinely Thai as “classical Thai art”, a result of the long development of visual images from earlier stages. 6 This art form is unique in the sense that it is the most widely known mature form of Thai art, and its forms and characteristics are in contrast to “Thai folk art”, although they are related through the influence of Buddhism. The indigenous art forms and styles engaged in the representation of Buddhism were integrated into the Thai cultural mainstream. This integration, plus that of Buddhism, into Thai art can be identified in both “classical Thai art” and “Thai folk art”. Phillips (1992) described these two artistic genres as indigenous Thai art movements that are cul- turally Thai. Classical Thai Art The Classical Thai Art period began when the first monarch in the Chakri Dynasty, King Rama I, ascended the Throne in 1782. At that time, following the destruction of Ayutthaya, the capital was relocated south to Bangkok, also known as the capital of Rattana- kosin (Krung Rattanakosin) , in a programme of ambitious temple building and restoration projects (figure 4) 7 . The new palace has all buildings of Buddhist corporeal; these include temple (Wat Phra Kaew) , vihan , and jedi (stupa) and the main chapel or ubosoth within the Grand Palace which contains a series of mural painting representing Buddhist themes (late eighteenth century). Figure 4 Wat Phrasirattanasatsadaram (popularly known as Wat Phra Kaew) is a chapel on the Grand Palace ground in Bangkok. It was built by the Chakri Dynasty in 1782 AD, which continues to the present. 6 See also Boisselier, 1976, for more details of classical Thai art. 7 The Rattanakosin era which started in 1782, continues into the present, with the reign of the current Thai monarch.