Thai Temple Art And Architecture

Thai temple art and architecture is the art and architecture of Buddhist temples in Thailand. Temples are known as '' wats'', from the Pāḷi ''vāṭa'', meaning "enclosure". A temple has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world. Temples served as a stabilizing center in these communities because their sacred teachings became a basis of authority and boundaries, their precincts became places of instruction, their regimes of common ownership of property formed them into economic centers, and their functions allowed them to serve at the heart of these communities in a variety of ways.

Architecture

Wat architecture adheres to consistent principles. A wat, with few exceptions, consists of two parts: the ''Phutthawat'' and the '' Sangkhawat''.

Phutthawat

The Phutthawat () is the area which is dedicated to Buddha. It generally contains several buildings:
* Chedi () – also known as a Stupa it is mostly in the form of a bell-shaped tower, often accessible and covered with gold leaf, containing a relic chamber.
* Prang () – the Thai version of Khmer temple towers, mostly in temples from the Sukhothai and the Ayutthaya period.
* Ubosot or Bot ( or ) – the ordination hall and most sacred area of a wat. Eight ''Sema stones'' ( Bai Sema, ) mark the consecrated area.
* Wihan () – a shrine hall that contains the principal Buddha images. It is the assembly hall where monks and laypeople congregate.
* Mondop () - specific square- or cruciform-based building or shrine, sometimes with a spired roof. It is a ceremonial form that can be appear on different kinds of buildings. It can house relics, sacred scriptures or act as a shrine. Unlike the ''Mandapa'' of Khmer or Indian temple, which are part of a larger structure, the Thai Mondop is free-standing.
* Ho trai () – the temple library or scriptures depository houses the sacred Tipiṭaka scriptures. Sometimes they are built in the form of a Mondop (), a cubical-shaped building where the pyramidal roof is carried by columns.
* Sala () – an open pavilion providing shade and a place to rest.
* Sala kan parian () – a large, open hall where laity can hear sermons or receive religious education. It literally means "hall, in which monks study for their Parian exam" and is used for chanting afternoon prayers.
* Ho rakhang () – bell tower that is used for waking the monks and to announce the morning and evening ceremonies.
*Phra rabiang () – a peristyle sometimes built around the sacred inner area as a cloister.
*Ancillary buildings such as a crematorium or a school.

The buildings are often adorned with elements such as ''chofas''.

In temples of the Rattanakosin era, such as Wat Pho and Wat Ratchabophit, the ubosot can be contained within a (low) inner wall called a ''Kamphaeng Kaeo'' (), which translates to "crystal wall".

File:Chmwchiangman8610a.jpg, Ubosot, Ho Trai and Chedi (from left to right) of Wat Chiang Man, built in Lanna architecture
File:Ubosot of Wat Nim.jpg, Ubosot of Wat Nimmanoradi, Bangkok
File:IMAG1168 01.jpg, An ancient Ayutthaya-style Ubosot without Chofas located at Wat Oi, Ang Thong, similar to Ubosot of Wat Phutthaisawan, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
File:Gran Palacio, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 26.jpg, Ubosot with multiple front roof located at Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok
File:Wat Ratcha Orasaram วัดราชโอรสาราม 2019 22.jpg, Thai-Chinese Ubosot rebuilt in King Rama III period, single front roof, without Chofas located at Wat Ratchaorasaram, Bangkok
File:The Four Chedi of Wat Pho (III).jpg, Chedi of Wat Pho, Bangkok
File:Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan(วัดอรุณราชวราราม).JPG, Prang of Wat Arun, Bangkok
File:วัดไผ่ล้อม พระอารามหลวง.jpg, Reclining Buddha inside Wihan Phra Non (Wihan of Reclining Buddha) of Wat Phai Lom, Chnathaburi
File:Phra Mondop.jpg, Mondop of Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok
File:Ho trai Wat Apson Sawan (II).jpg, Ho Trai of Wat Apson Sawan, Bangkok
File:Guti Wat Rachathiwat.jpg, Sermon hall of Wat Rachathiwat, Bangkok
File:Wat Ratchabopit (I).jpg, Wat Ratchabopit, Bangkok
File:Haw Klawng Rakhang, Wat Phra That Chang Kham , Nan.jpg, Ho Rakhang of Wat Phra That Chang Kham, Nan
File:Wat Benchamabophit (II).jpg, Ubosot of Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok
File:Ayutthaya - Wat Phanom Yong - 0010.jpg, Crematoria of Wat Phanom Yong, Ayuthhaya
File:Kamphengkaeowatrajbopit02.jpg, Kamphaeng Kaeo surrounding the Ubosot of Wat Ratchabophit, Bangkok

Sangkhawat

The sangkhawat () contains the monks' living quarters. It lies within the wall surrounding the temple compound. The sangkhawat can have the following buildings:

* Kuti () – originally a small structure, built on stilts, designed to house a monk, with its proper size defined in the Sangkhathiset, rule 6, to be 12 by 7 kheup (4.013 by 2.343 meters). Modern kutis take the shape of an apartment building with small rooms.
*The sangkhawat can contain the 'Ho rakhang' (bell tower) and even the 'Sala Kan Parian' (sermon hall).
*Houses most of the functional buildings such as the kitchen.

Temple elements

Roof forms

Temples display multiple roof tiers. The use of ornamented tiers is reserved for roofs on temples, palaces and important public buildings. Two or three tiers are most often used, but some royal temples have four. The practice is more aesthetic than functional. Temple halls and their roofs are large. To lighten the roof's appearance, the lowest tier is the largest with a smaller middle layer and the smallest tier on top. Multiple breaks in each roof lighten it further – a double-tiered roof might have 2–4 breaks in each tier. The tiers, breaks and tier patterns create dynamic visual rhythms. In northern temples, the roof area is larger, sweeping low to cover more of the wall. The lower tiers telescope toward the entrance. In a central Thai temple, the lower tiers reach a short distance beyond the top roof at the gable ends.

Roof finials

Most decorations are attached to the bargeboard, the long, thin panel on the edge of the roof at the gable ends. The decorative structure is called the ''lamyong''. The ''lamyong'' is sculpted in an undulating, serpentine ''nag sadung'' shape evoking the ''Nāga''. Its blade-like projection called ''bai raka'' suggest both ''Nāga'' fins and the feathers of Garuda. Its lower finial is called a ''hang hong'', which usually takes the form of a ''Nāga'''s head turned up and facing away from the roof. The ''Nāga'' head may be styled in flame-like ''kranok'' motifs and may have multiple heads. A roof with multiple breaks or tiers has identical ''hang hong'' finials at the bottom of each section. Perched on the peak of the ''lamyong'' is the large curving ornament called a '' Chofah'', which resembles the beak of a bird, perhaps representing Garuda.

Popular temple icons

Thai Theravada Buddhism and Hindu cultures merged, and Hindu elements were introduced into Thai iconography. Popular figures include the four-armed figure of Vishnu; the garuda (half man, half bird); the eight-armed Shiva; elephant-headed Ganesh; the ''Nāga'', which appears as a snake, dragon or cobra; and the ghost-banishing giant Yaksha.

See also

Depictions of the Buddha

* Development of the Buddha image in Thailand
* Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand
* Characteristics of a Thai Buddha

Statues and ornamentation: deities, demons and mythical beings

*Apsara
* Erawan
*Ganesh
*Garuda
*Guanyin
*Hanuman
*Indra
*Kinnara
* Kirtimukha
*Makara
*Nāga
* Phra Phrom
*Rama
*Ravana
*Shiva
*Vishnu
*Yaksha

Architectural elements

* Bai Sema
*Chofa

General

* Architecture of Thailand
*Buddhism in Thailand
*List of Buddhist temples in Thailand
*Thai art
* Vessantara Jātaka
* Ramakien
* Sumeru
*Himavanta

References

Sources

*Discovery Channel by Scott Rutherford, ''"Insight Guides: Thailand."'', APA Publications GmbH & Co., 2004.
*Discovery Channel by Steve Van Beek, ''"Insight Pocket Guide: Thailand."'', APA Publications GmbH & Co., 2004.
*Maria Grazia Casella and Paola Piacco, ''"Thailand: Nature and Wonders."'', Asia Books Co,.Ltd., 2004.
*John Hoskin and Gerald Cubitt, ''"This is Thailand."'', Asia Books Co., Ltd., 2003

Further reading

* Karl Döhring, ''Buddhist Temples of Thailand: an Architectonic Introduction'', White Lotus, 2000.

External links

Wat Thai: DhammathaiBuddhist Art: Architecture Pt.1

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thai Temple Art And Architecture


Architecture in Thailand
Traditional Thai architecture
Buddhist architecture