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Home , Rama I, Sukhothai Kingdom, Thai art

THE TRIPLE ARTS OF RATTANAKOSIN: THE HERITAGE OF SUAN SUNANDHA ROYAL COUNTY

PIBOOL WAIJITTRAGUM

Department of Graphic and Multimedia Design, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract - Rattanakosin Kingdom is the fourth of Siam. After 15 years of Burmese – Siamese War, it was founded in 1782 with the establishment of as the capital city. Since the reign of King I; the first monarch of the reigning house of of Siam, Thai traditional art was inherited from the earlier Kingdom. Until, the reign of King Rama V, The European Art was spread throughout of Asia and takes influent to Thai traditional arts. Not only, but also effected to the arts and culture in Suan Sunandha Royal County. The Triple Arts of Rattanakosin is a department under the supervision of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, with its response to promote arts and culture that occur in Suan Sunandha Royal County. The role of academic service served for educational institutions and communities. There are 3 types of have been exhibited in this bureau: 1. Thai traditional Music Art: the evolution of Thai music since the first King of Rattanakosin period, Hologram technical presentation for The Master of Thai musician, virtual reality media with visual and sound. 2. Thai traditional : the multimedia presentation of visual art since King Rama VI; watercolor of The Royal Patronage student, oil portrait of The Royal Family. 3. Thai traditional Dancing Art: touch screen computer has been installed for self learning; window display of performing art costume, masks and head dressing.

Keywords - Rattanakosin Kingdom, Rattanakosin Arts, Chakri Dynasty, Suan Sunandha Royal County.

I. INTRODUCTION

Bangkok; the capital city of Kingdom of Siam under the reign of Rattanakosin Kingdom has been settled in 1782 [1]. Over couple century this peaceful community gradually became a prosperous city due to its perfect location on the great river and the heart of . It is the fourth dynasty of Siam. After 15 years of Burmese - Siamese War, since the reign of King ; the first monarchy of the reigning house of Chakri Dynasty of Siam, as on Table. 1.

Fig. 1: The character of Art Source(s): Waijittragum, P. 2017 2) (1351 - 1767 A.D.) This is the longest monarchy of Kingdom of Siam, over 400 years long reign. Along with 11 times of Burmese - Siamese War and 2 times defeated to The Burmese Empire, cause to the character of Ayutthaya Art has been combined with Burmese Art and other style of colonial province as shown on Fig. 2.

Table. 1: World History Timelines Source(s): Waijittragum, P. 2017

Back to 12TH Century, The Kingdom of Siam has been established in Southeast Asia. There are 4 Kingdoms throughout of 800 years, as are; 1) (1238 - 1351 A.D.) This is the first Kingdom of Siam and it has been established under the order of King the Great in 1279. Due to its location in Northern of Thailand, cause to the character of Sukhothai Art was combined with Burmese Art, Lanna Art, Lanchang Art and Lao Fig. 2: The character of Ayutthaya Art Art as shown on Fig. 1. Source(s): Waijittragum, P. 2017

Proceedings of 96th The IRES International Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9th-10th January, 2018 27 The Triple Arts of Rattanakos in: The Heritage of Suan Sunandha Royal County 3) Kingdom (1767 - 1782 A.D.) This is the compound of royal residences has been build on shortest monarchy of The Kingdom of Siam, only 15 Northward not far from , known years long reign. Warfare was main duty throughout as Dusit Garden Palace, as on Fig. 5. As the of this period cause to there is no outstanding requirement of The King, the new palace was consists character for this period. of Thai traditional architecture, Baroque and Neo 4) Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782 - present day) this is Classic Art building, as on Fig. 6 and 7. Not only, but the present monarchy of The Kingdom of Siam, over also ponds, gardens and lawns in the peaceful 230 years long reign. It is a large empire in the early environment. of period, with the combination with Lao, and Northern . The character of Rattanakosin Art was shown as on Fig. 3. It is known for Thailand just 80 years ago after The Siamese Revolution in 1932.

Fig. 5: Landscape Plan of Dusit Palace Source(s): Adapted from https://www.silpa-mag.com/club/art- and-culture/article_10437

Fig. 3: The character of Ayutthaya Art Source(s): Waijittragum, P. 2017

Rattanakosin Island as the heart of Bangkok; it is not exactly an island but is a great landmark for the royal court, surrounding with , multiple canals, fortress, temples, Government office, Military headquarter, local communities and foreigner villages from various country. The and The

Temple of Phra Kaew were constructed there Fig. 6: The Vimanmek Mansion, built in 1900 under the order of King Rama I [2]. Not only, but Source(s): Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ also ; the royal field for officially Dusit_Palace#/media/File:Vimanmek_Palace_stage.jpg activities and National festivals were held here like a town square, cause to Rattanakosin Island’s location like an egg yolk, as on Fig. 4.

Fig. 7: The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, Source(s): Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Dusit_Palace#/media/File:Ananta_Samakhom_ Martinp1.jpg

In 1908, during the last year of King Rama V, there is

Fig. 4: Map of Rattanakosin Island a plan to expanding the residence with a great forest Source(s): Waijittragum, P. 2017 for those concubines reside after the late King. Then finished in the reign of King Rama VI with the During the reigns of King Rama I to IV, The King official name; Suan Sunandha (Sunandha Garden), as and his royal family were dwelling in The Grand on Fig. 8. It is located on Westward of Dusit Garden Palace. Until 1898, the reign of King Rama V, A Palace.

Proceedings of 96th The IRES International Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9th-10th January, 2018 28 The Triple Arts of Rattanakos in: The Heritage of Suan Sunandha Royal County 5) Sasibongse Prabai Building, the residence of Princess Sasibongse Prabai 6) Auan Achava Dhamdhawalaya Building, the residence of Chao Chom Auan and Chao Chom Dham Achava Dhamdhawalaya

II. METHODOLOGY

Field survey exploration for the identification of each part of the triple arts of Rattanakosin was the Fig. 8: Landscape Plan of Suan Sunandha attentions, field survey area as are; 1) Source(s): Adapted from https://www.silpa-mag.com/club/art- Chudharatanabhorn Building for Thai traditional and-culture/article_10437 Music Art, 2) Adorn Dibyanivasa Building for Thai

traditional Fine Art and 3) Auan Achava In 1919, King Rama VI ordered to construct 32 royal Dhamdhawalaya Building for Thai traditional residences and a throne hall. Two years later, H. H. Dancing Art. Qualitative research method has been Princess Saisavali Bhiromya, one of the beloved provided for this research; the experts of Thai wives of King Rama V moved from Dusit Garden traditional Art and Culture were interviewed. Data Palace to permanently reside with her daughters in analysis was based on the characteristics from each her own royal residence [3]. Moreover, many female part with descriptive statistics style. royalties of King Rama V also moved following her, cause to these royal residences as the biggest royal III. RESULTS court in that moment. Nippakarn School for the ladies has been constructed within this garden in 1921, the The triple arts of Rattanakosin school provided multiple subjects as are; Thai This department is a resource centre of , English language, History, Craft and Home traditional Art and Culture that represents the cultural Economics. Unfortunately, this school has no longer changes depicting the prosperity of the ancient Thai to remain; it is the last period of an absolute culture. These stories were narrated through the monarchy regime. After the revolution in 1932, all exhibition of life in former royal court of Suan those concubines who resided in Suan Sunandha Sunandha Garden in the contemporary style along Garden were moved out. The royal garden was with various multimedia channels. abandoned and became a forest and all royal residences became disintegrated. Thai traditional Music Art Five years later, in 1937 Suan Sunandha Garden has Part of Thai traditional Music Art located in been divided into 3 parts for the educational purpose, Chudharatanabhorn Building, it was the former consist of; residence of H.R.H. Prince Chudharatana Rajakumari. 1) The Institute of Administration Development, There are exhibitions related to music, especially Ministry of Interior Thai Classical music development from the period of 2) Dusit Home Economics School; then becomes King Rama I to the late King Rama IX. There are Suan Dusit University multiple Thai traditional music instruments as are; 3) Suan Sunandha Vitayalai School; then become Fiddle, Drum, Xylophone and Cymbal. In addition, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. some musical stories of the royal court are exhibited

via modern technology, as on Fig. 9 and 10. The heritage of Suan Sunandha Royal County

Since 1937, most of royal residences have been destroyed. Canals and ponds have been filled, in order to construct new buildings. Only 6 existing royal residences remain in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University and they have been registered as an archaeological site by The Fine Art Department, as are; 1) Saisuddha Nobhadol Building, the residence of H. H. Princess Saisavali Bhiromya and Princess Nippa Nobhadol 2) Chudharatanabhorn Building, the residence of Princess Chudharatana Rajakkumari 3) Bismaya Bimalasatya Building, the residence of Princess Bismaya Bimalasatya

4) Adorn Dibyanivasa Building, the residence of Fig. 9: Thai traditional Music Art Source(s): The Arts and Princess Adorn Dibyanivasa Culture Office Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Proceedings of 96th The IRES International Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9th-10th January, 2018 29 The Triple Arts of Rattanakos in: The Heritage of Suan Sunandha Royal County Thai traditional Dancing Art Part of Thai traditional Dancing Art located in Auan Achava Dhamdhawalaya Building [4], it was the former residence of the royal concubine Auan and Dham of King Rama V. There are exhibitions related to Thai classical dances of Rattanakosin period. The multiple Thai traditional dance costumes and ornaments have been exhibited in this building as are; masks and Khon costumes (the traditionally performed solely in the royal court by men in masks accompanied by narrators and a traditional piphat ensemble) [5], Thai classical dancing equipments and its music instruments. Most of them are forbidden

Fig. 10: Thai traditional Music Art item and using with the holy respected, them have Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office been preserved for the royal special event and annual Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University holy ceremony. This activity need to paying respect to the Master of Thai traditional arts, as on Fig. 13, 14 Thai traditional Fine Art and 15. Part of Thai traditional Fine Art located in Adorn Dibyanivasa Building, it was the former residence of H.R.H. Prince Adorn Dibyanibha. There are exhibitions related to Fine Art which represented multiple Artisan technique as are; Water colour, Oil Painting, Acrylic and Crayon. Most of them were painted by the ladies who live and learn in Suan Sunandha Vitayalai School in the early period. Not only, but also display a large number of historical black and white photography which represented multiple original Thai Art in an extraordinary place throughout of Thailand, on Fig. 11 and 12. Fig. 13: Khon; Thai Classical Dancing Art Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Fig. 11: Thai traditional Fine Art Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University Fig. 14: Khon masks Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Fig. 12: Thai traditional Fine Art Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office Fig. 15: Dancing Art exhibitions Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University Source(s): The Arts and Culture Office Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Proceedings of 96th The IRES International Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9th-10th January, 2018 30 The Triple Arts of Rattanakos in: The Heritage of Suan Sunandha Royal County ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS [2] Kiatrasamee, J. 2008. The Management Plan of Historical Building: Saisuddha Nobhadol This research would not have been possible without Building in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat the contribution, support, kindness helpful and University. encouragement of Associate Professor Dr. Suppakorn Bangkok, . Disatapundhu and Thank you for all supported from [3] Virojthammakorn, K. 2007. Suan Sunandha. Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. Bangkok, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. [4] Buarod, S. 2017. The Development of Suan REFERENCES Sunandha Dance and Theatre. Proceedings of 69th ISERD International [1] The Kingdom of Siam, Available at: Conference, Prague, Czech Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Sia [5] Khon; Thai Classical Dancing Art , Available m at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khon

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