CHAPTER III A COMPARISON ON LAN XANG AND EARLY RATTANAKOSIN BUDDHIST ART AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS As a Buddhist kingdom, both Lan Xang and Rattanakosin cherished their temples by put every effort to build one and decorate it with the most beautiful artwork they could create at that moment. Those architectures and artworks not just express how luxury each kingdom was, but also represent the thought and circumstance in the meantime. Even though Lan Xang and Rattanakosin had a same religion and were neighbor, their arts and architectural designs are different as follow: 3.1 Lan Xang Buddhist Art and Architectural Design Lan Xang was a kingdom with diversity; even in the Lao race itself. Since the end of the reign of King Suryawongsa Thammikkarat, Lan Xang was divided into three separated kingdom; Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak. Even though they were split up, they still shared their art and architectural designs. Each kingdom had been influenced by the neighbor surround and outsider as described below: 3.1.1 Lan Xang Architecture Developed through centuries, Lan Xang architectures may contain a lot of outsider influence, but at some point, they have their own unique style of architecture. Lan Xang temples can be divided into two part; Buddhawat and Sangkhawat. This chapter will discusses only on the Buddhawat area which cantains of That (ธาตุ), sim (สิม), Ho Wai (หอไหว), Oob Mung (อูบมุง), Hotrai or a library (หอไตร) and Ho Klong or a drum tower (หอกลอง), 3.1.1.1 That (Pagoda or Stupa) That (ธาตุ) in Lan Xang architecture is a Buddhist monument which can refer as a Chedi or pagoda (in Thai Architecture). The component of a That can be divided into three parts (Figure 3.1); base part, middle part or ‘Ruen That’ (เรือนธาตุ) and top part. That in Lan Xang architecture can be categorized into three types; Lan Na influenced That, Original Lan Xang That and Mon-Burmese influenced That. 24 25 Top Part Middle part/ Ong Rakang Base Part Figure 3.1 A Figure illustrate the componant of a Chedi 1) Lan Na Influenced That Lan Na Kingdom and Luang Prabang had a very firm connection. The location of the two kingdoms is geographically closed. Furthermore, the Great king of Lan Xang, King Saisethathirath once ruled Lan Na Kingdom before he came back to Lan Xang with Lan Na artists. The culture between the two kingdoms was not only transmitted by a closed distance but also by royal families. 1.1) Lan Na Bell-Shaped That The bottom of the base part was built in a double lotus square-base (Than Bua Yok Kej-ฐานบัวยกเก็จ in Thai architecture)1. The next layer is a triple lotus base support the ‘Ong Rakang’ (องคระฆัง). The middle part or Ruen That is in bell-shaped, in circle plan. The top part, above the Ruen That has a Rattana Banlang (รัตนบัลลังก), Plong 2 Chanai (ปลองไฉน) and Pli (ปลี)1 . The example of Lan Na bell-shaped That is a That in Wat Apai, Luang Prabang (Figure 3.2). 1Than Bua Yok Kej is composed of superimposed pedestals. The first is called the ‘Chopping Block’, the second part is the ‘Lotus’, the third part is the ‘Chopping Block’ and the fourth part is the ‘Lion’ base. (K.I. Matics, Introduction to the Thai Temple, p.67) 2Sakchai Saisingh, Chedi Buddha Image, Huptam, Sim in Lao and Esan Arts, (Bangkok: Museum Press, 2012), 53. 26 Figure 3.2 a That at Wat Apai 1.2) Lan Na Prasada-shaped That A Ruen That part of the That is in a square plan. It has a ‘Sum Choranum’3 (ซุมจระนํา) contains four Buddha images in four directions. Above the Ruen That usually built a Lan Na bell-shaped That, contains arch-structure. At the top and bottom part of the Ruen That contain a ceramic ornament made in form of Chinese flowers called ‘Kab-Bon and Kan Lang’4 (กาบบนกาบลาง). The example of Lan Na prasada-shaped That is That Noi at Wat Mahathat (Figure 3.3). Figure 3.3 That Noi (ธาตุนอย) at Wat Maha That 2) Traditional Lan Xang That 2.1) Vese-Shaped That (เจดียทรงบัวเหลี่ยม) Basically, a vase-shaped That (Figure 3.4) has an Ong Rakang in square shape and so as other features in the top part. It may have a short two or three Than Kieng (ฐานเขียง). A big Luk Kaeo (ลูกแกว) 3 A small, roofed space attached to the main body in four directions of the pagoda. (The Office of the National Culture Commission, 1993, p.83) 4Ibid, 59-60. 27 supports Than Bua Kwam Bua Ngai (ฐานบัวคว่ําบัวหงาย). The Than Bua (ฐาน บัว) of the That is usually decorated by Lan Xang style Luk Kaeo Ok Kai (ลูกแกวอกไก). At the four corners of the pagoda are decorated with ‘Karb’ (กาบ) which similar to the Lan Na prasada-shaped That and the ‘Karb Bhrama Sorn’ (กาบพรหมศร)in Rattanakosin arts. The base part of the That has a ‘Bua Ngon’5 (บัวงอน), a lotus petal-liked flick upward to the sky. From a Than Kieng (ฐานเขียง) to a Pak Rakang (ปากระฆัง) are in a pattern of an increased corner That (ธาตุ แบบเพิ่มมุม). The body or Ong Rakang of the That is in a square- shaped. The throne (บัลลังก also built in square plan) is made in form of the Than Bua Kwam Bua Ngai (ฐานบัวคว่ําบัวหงาย) which has a Luk Kaeo Ok 6 Kai (ลูกแกวอกไก) decorated. Figure 3.4 That Luang, Vientiane 2.2) The Prasada-Shaped That The most important feature of this That is that the Ruen That (เรือนธาตุ) has four Sum Choranums (ซุมจระนํา) which enshrined Buddha images at every direction. Above the Ruen That (เรือนธาตุ) is a bell square-shaped That with a point top.7 The pasada-shaped That was influenced by Lan Na arts and soon developed to a new style as below: A That influenced by Lan Na and Ayutthaya Arts: it contains two main parts which are 1)the Ruen That (เรือนธาตุ) in square plan with increased corners. 2) The top part built in the bell-shaped That. This part has three styles; a vassel-shaped That (Figure 3.5), an increased 5Bua Ngon is called ‘Bua Pak Pling’ in Thai arts. 6Ibid, 63-64. 7Ibid, 79. 28 corner That (Figure 3.6) and the type that has a double Ruen That (เรือน 8 ธาตุ) and a vassel-shaped That at the top (Figure 3.7). Figure 3.5 Pra That Bang Puen, Nong Kai, Thailand Figure 3.6 a That at Wat Naga Yai, Vientiane Figure 3.7 Pra That Nong Sam Muen, Chaiyabhum, Thailand 8Ibid, 80-86. 29 A That influenced by Khmer-Cham-Ayutthaya and mixed with a vassel-shaped That: this type has a body like a Khmer prasada, with Sum Choranum (ซุมจระนํา) that enshrined Buddha images. Vassel-shaped That was built at the top of the Ruen That(เรือนธาตุ). The Ruen That of this type of That is built in a square plan almost like Khmer or Cham prasada on a small base. The Ruen That of this type can be divided into two groups; a Cham influenced (Figure 3.8) and a Khmer 9 influenced (Figure 3.9). Figure 3.8 Pra That Cheng Chum (พระธาตุเชิงชุม), Sakon Nakorn, Thailand Figure 3.9 Pra That In Hang, Savannaket, Lao PDR. 3) Mon-Burmese influenced That A Mon-Burmese influenced That most likely to be found in Xieng Kwang; for example That Phun (Figure 3.10). This type of That has a base of Than Bua Thala Yok Kej (ฐานบัวถลายกเก็จ-lotus base increased corners). The part that support a That’s body was built in a ‘Bua Song Klum’ (บัวทรงคลุม) shaped, influenced by Ayutthaya arts. It has a 9Ibid, 88-94. 30 decoration at the body in Mon and Burmese style. The top part built a 10 simulation of a That in circle plan with no throne (บัลลังก). Figure 3.10 That Phun, Xieng Kwang, Lao PDR. 3.1.1.2 Sim11 (Ordination Hall) Sim refers to an ubosot or an ordination hall in Lan Xang architecture. The word ‘sim’ is form ‘sima’ or ‘sema’ which means a boundary stone of the Ubosot. Sim has a component and element as below (Figure 3.11, 3.12); Pan Lom Na Ban (ป้านลม หรือ รวย (หน้าบัน) ระกา) Hang Pung or Gable (ฮังผึ้ง) Kantuay in Elephant ear shaped (คันทวยทรงหูช้าง) Figure 3.11 A front side picture of Sim of Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang. 10Ibid, 105-107. 11 Refers to a ‘Chapel’ or an Ubosot in Lan Xang architecture. The word ‘Sim’ is from ‘Sima’ or ‘Sema,’ which means the boundary stone installed around an Ubosot. 31 Cho Fa or Sattaburipan (ช่อฟ้า หรือ สัตตะบูริพัน) Ngo (โหง่) Multi-tiered Roof หลังคาซ้อนชั้น Figure 3.12 A side plan of Wat Xieng Thong's sim Sim in Lan Xang architecture can be categorized into 5 types; Luang Prabang, Tai Lue, Vientiane, Xieng Kwang and Mixed Sim. 1) Luang Prabang Sim Luang Prabang sim has a features much similar to Lan Na vihara as it is believed to be influenced by Lan Na arts in about 15th -16th centuries. Luang Prabang has elements as below (Figure 3.13): ‘Turb’ (เทิบ) or the roof of Luang Prabang sim has a ‘bird wings’ shaped. It has a multi-tiered roof cascading down in layers, the front side has three layers and the backside has two layers, the lowest flaring out, almost touch the ground.12 In the middle of the roof has a ‘Sattaburipan’ or chofa. The roof of Luanf Prabang sim contains no Bai Raka and Hang Hong.