The Preservation of Religious Values Through Buddha Images at World Heritage Sites in Thailand
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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. d 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 e 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 ...................................................................................................