Thai Art

Sukhothai

Ayutthaya

Bangkok

Fisher, pp. 172-183

Term Paper

• Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento (visit Asian Art Gallery by yourself)

• Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (class meets on Saturday March 5th at 1 p.m.), February 19-May 8, 2005

• The Witt Gallery, The tradition Continues: Thai Art from the Past into the Present, April 19- April 28, 2005

• Paper: 4-5 page-long; focus on one or couple of objects; DEADLINE Wednesday April 27, 2005

Thai art

• Sukhothai (13th-15th centuries)

• Ayutthaya (1350-1767): Kingdom of Siam

• Bangkok (1782-present)

• Language in central Thailand: Mon-Khmer and Thai

Buddhism in Thailand

• Hinayana (Theravada is one of the 18 sects practiced in SEA in the 6th)

• Mahayana Buddhism from NE India (in the regions under Cambodian rulers)

• Theravada Buddhism from Burma

• Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka

Theravada Buddhism

• Focus: Sakyamuni Buddha, his past lives (especially the last Ten Human Lives (Thotsachat), his teaching, and monks

• Goals: reach nirvana, to be born in a paradise, to be born during the time of Maitreya Buddha, Future Buddha

• Religious practice: merit making (punya)

Buddhist Art

• Thai Buddha images: sitting, standing, walking, and reclining

• Most popular hand gestures: earth-touching hand gesture and meditation

• Follows the 32 major characteristics and 80 minor characteristics

• Media: stone, brick and stucco, bronze

159 Seated Buddha in earth-touching hand gesture, Sukhothai, 14th century

158 Walking Buddha, Sukhothai, 14th century

The Descent from Trayastrimsa, Wat Phra Phai Luang

Painting

• Manuscripts (sutra) depict scenes from the Buddha’s life and his past lives (jatakas); made of paper and painted with tempera

• Mural painting

161 Birth scene of the Buddha, Ayutthaya, 1776

Hair-cutting, Bangkok, 18th century

Sujata offering of food, Bangkok, 19th century

The Attack of Mara, Bangkok, 19th century

160 Descent from Trayastrimsa, Ayutthaya, 18th century

The descent from Trayastrimsa, Bangkok, 19th century

The Miracle of Sravaasti, Bangkok, 19th century

Parinirvana scene, 18th century

Ayutthaya period

• Kingdom of Siam

• 1350-1800

• Buddhist art was influenced by Khmer art, Sukhothai art, and Sri Lankan art

Wat Panan choeng, Ayutthaya, 15th century

Face of a Buddha image, Ayutthaya period, 15th century

Raksmi, Ayutthaya, 16th century

Seated Buddha in earth-touching hand gesture, Ayutthaya, 15th C.

Head of Buddha, Ayutthaya, 15th century

Buddha image, Ayutthaya 15th century

Votive Tablet, Ayutthaya, 15th century

Buddha image, Ayutthaya, 16th century

Bejewelled Buddha image, Ayutthaya, late 16th c.

Bejewelled Buddha, Ayutthaya, 17-18th century

Bejewelled Buddha, Ayutthaya, 17th century

Sankhalok (ceramic), Ayutthaya period, 15th century