Thailand Architecture

THAILAND

Presented by:

Marla Shiela Joy C. Mendoza

Crizaldo Guevarra

Geographical Setting

o Total Land Boundary: 4,863 km

Borders

o North- Laos and Myanmar

o East- Laos and Cambodia

o South- Gulf of Thailand and

o Malaysia

o West- the Andaman Sea and

o Myanmar

Maritime boundaries

o Southeast- Vietnam in the

o Gulf of Thailand

o Southwest- Indonesia and

o India in the Andaman Sea

o Bangkok - capital

o also called Krung Thep, meaning “city of angels”

o Krung Thep was adapted from it‟s original name.

(listed inguinness world book of records as the

longest name of a place):

o Krungthep Mahanakhon Bovorn Rattanakosin

Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokpop

Noparatratchathani Burirom

Udomratchaniveymahasathan AmornpimanAvatansathit Sakkathattiya- avisnukarmprasit.

Historical Background

o Thailand - Prathet Thai, meaning “land of the free”

o previously known as syam, or "dark brown" people. It

was believed that Siam derived from the Hindi

word shyam, or brown race, with a contemptuous

signification.

o Also spelled Siem, Syâm or Syâma, it has beenidentified with the Sanskrit Śyâma ( , meaning

"dark" or "brown")

o During the reign of Rama III (1824–1851,) a Scottish

trader had experimental coins struck in England at the

king's behest, Though not adopted for use, the name

of the country put on these first coins was Muang Thai,

not Siam.

Climate

o Tropical – with temperatures ranging from 28-35°C

o The area of Thailand north of Bangkok has a climate

determined by three seasons whilst the southern

peninsular region of Thailand has only two.

National Symbols

o National Flower: “Ratchaphruek“ (or golden

shower) The color of flowers is shining yellow

contrasting great importance similarly to thecolor of their national religion „Buddhism'

and the color of Monday when His Majesty

King of Thailand was born.

o National Animal: “Chang Thai” (or Thai

elephant) According to ancient royal Thai

traditions, a white elephant is a noble beast

of special importance, exemplifying a king's

honor and glory.

o National Architecture: “Sala Thai” (or Thai-

style arbor) Sala Thai reflects knowledge ofThai people. It retains beauty, which is

different from architectures of other

countries, and foreigners can acknowledge

„Thai-ness„ through Sala Thai.

Religion

o 94% - Hinayana Buddhism

or Theravada Buddhism

o 3.9% are Muslims,

o 1.7% are Confucianim and

o 0.65% are Christians.

o Hindus and the Sikhs

o Buddhism, however, is the

national religion of

Thailand.

Theravada Buddhism

o Theravada Buddhism reached Thailand around the 6th

century AD.

o Buddhism has also shaped much of Thailand's culture.

The early Thai architecture, literature, sculpture all

reveal Buddhist influence. It had been a Thai tradition

that Buddhist males above 20 yrs of age must practice

at least 3 months of monk hood after which they

could retreat to their normal lives. The Buddhist monks

are treated with utmost respect throughout the

country. The monks drape themselves with saffron

colored robes. Golden stupas and steeply sloping

roofs characterize The Buddhist temples. They alsoserve as the hub of important social activities. Most of

them are situated in the countryside.

Muslims

o The Muslims in Thailand are mostly Sunnis. The country

allows its minority to practice the religion of their

choice. The king attends the important Muslim

religious festivals and those in the service of the

government are allowed leaves on special religious

events. There are about 2000 mosques and 200

Muslim schools in Thailand.

Confucianism

o It is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system

based on the teachings of Confucius who was a

Chinese sage. This is practiced by a minority of the

Thai people.

Christianso This religion was introduced in Thailand during the 16th

and 17th centuries and has played an important part

in the country's progress. It was the Christians whointroduced surgery, smallpox vaccinations and also

trained the doctors in western medicine.

o 5 major Christian denominations:

o The Roman Catholic Church,

o The Southern Baptists,

o The Seventh Day Adventists,

o The Church of Christ in Thailand and

o the EvangelicalFellowship of Thailand

Hinduism

o Hindu deities areworshipped by manyThais

alongside Buddhism, such

as thefamous Erawan

shrine, and statues of

Ganesh, Indra, and Shiva,as well as numerous symbols

relating to Hindu deities are

found, e.g., Garuda, a

symbol of the monarchy.

o The Hindus have their own

religious shrines and also

operate separate schools

where they teach Sanskrit to

the students.

Sikhism

o Ladha Singh-first Sikh to

migrate to Thailand (1890)

o Sikhs began migrating to

the Kingdom of Thailandin the early 1900s. By the

year 1911, many Sikh

families had settled in

Thailand.

o The Sikhs in Thailandperform many charitable

functions such providing

free school for the poor

children and also aiding

the aged.

Historical Periods

o Ancient Civilization (Mon-Khmer and Malay - 9th to

13th Century)

o Sukhothai (Mid 13th to 15th Centuries)

o Ayutthaya (Mid 14th to late 18th Centuries)

o Lanna (Mid 13th to 19th Centuries)

o Rattanakosin (Late 18th Century to present)

Ancient Civilization (Mon-Khmer and Malay - 9th to 13th Century)

o Prior to the arrival of the Tai people and culture into what is

now Thailand, the region hosted a number of

indigenous Mon-Khmer and Malay civilizations. Yet little is

known about Thailand before the 13th century as the literary

and concrete sources are scarce and most of the

knowledge about this period is gleaned from archeological

evidence.

o The Chao Phraya valley in what is now Central Thailand had

once been the home of Mon Dvaravati culture, which

prevailed from the 7th century to the 10th century. The

existence of the civilizations had long been forgotten by the

Thai when Samuel Beal discovered the polity among the

Chinese writings on Southeast Asia as “Tou-lo-po-ti”. During

the early 20th century the archeologists led by George

Coedès made grand excavations on what is now Nakorn

Pathom and found it to be a center of Dvaravati culture.

The constructed name Dvaravati was confirmed by

a Sanskrit plate inscription containing the name “Dvaravati”.

o Nanchao Period (650–1250): Located on the

southwestern border of China‟s Tang empire (A.D.

618–907), Nanchao served as a buffer for and later

rival to China. The Tai, a people who originally lived in

Nanchao, migrated into mainland Southeast Asia overa period of many centuries during the first millennium

A.D.

Nanchao Period (650–1250)

o Founded in 1238 by two Thai governors, Khun Bang

Klang Tha(Si Inthrathit) and Khun Pha Muang who

rebelled against the Khmers; and gave

independence to the region.

Golden Age of Thai culture

o “Thai” means “Free”

o gained independence in 1238 and quickly expandedits boundary of influence.

o A political feature which "classic" Thai historians call

"father governs children" existed at this time.

o King Ramkhamhaeng- the most famous and dynamic

monarch ever to rule the Sukhothai kingdom.

o King Ramkhamhaeng established the Thai Alphabet

Sukhothai Period (1238–1438)

o The city-state of Ayutthaya was founded by King U-

Thong in 1350 and established its capital in 1351 on

the Chao Phraya River in central Thailand, calling it

Ayutthaya.

o In 1360 Ramathibodi (r. 1351–69) declared Theravada

Buddhism as the official religion and compiled a legal

code based on Hindu legal texts and Thai custom that

remained in effect until the late nineteenth century.

o Ayutthaya as an island is formed by the gathering of

three rivers, the Chao Phraya, the Pasak, and the

Loburi and surrounded by rice terraces

o King U-Thong and his immediate successors expanded

Ayutthaya's territory, especially northward towards

Sukhothai and eastward towards the Khmer capital ofAngkor

Ayutthaya Period (1350–1767)

o The greater size of

government could notremain the same as during

the days of King

Ramkhamhaeng

o The society during the

Ayutthaya period wasstrictly hierarchical. There

were, roughly, three classes

of people, king at the top

of scale at the bottom of

social scale werecommoners and the slaves.

KING

COMMONERS &

SLAVES

SOCIAL


Ayutthaya was a society of

builders rather than

sculptors.

o It was preoccupied with

building monuments to

impress outsiders by sheer

imensity.

o It erected a major portion

of its 400 wats in

Ramathibodi's reign and

completed most of its

major monuments in the

first 150 years of its

existence.


Ayutthaya had three palaces for its rulers:

o Wang Luan (Royal Palace)- occupied by the principal

king, situated on the northern rim of the city

o Wang Na (Palace to the Front) built for the second or

Vice- King, situated on the northeastern corner of the

city

o Wang Lang (Palace to the Rear) later occupied by

princes of the royal blood, situated on the western

part of the city


Lanna (Mid 13th to 19th Centuries)

o Another Thai state that coexisted with Sukhothai was

the eastern state of Lanna, centred in Chiang Mai.

o Founded by King Phya Mangrai.

o This city-state emerged in the same period as

Sukhothai. Evidently Lanna became closely allied with

Sukhothai. After the Ayutthaya kingdom had

emerged and expanded its influence from the Chao

Phraya valley, Sukhothai was finally subdued. Fierce

battles between Lanna and Ayutthaya also constantly

took place and Chiang Mai was eventually

subjugated, becoming Ayutthaya's 'vassal'.

o made use of wood but more of stones and bricks.

o Wats or temples were the main structures built at this era.

o Lanna's independent history ended in 1558,

o This architectural style had its own distinctive

characteristics which emphasizes on the enormous

size of the shrines and relatively small sermon ortemple‟s hall. Stupas were later built from mid 14th

century onwards since the entrance of Lankawong

Buddhism sect. The stupas were then built in Lanka

style.

Lanna (Mid 13th to 19th Centuries)

Thon Buri Period (1767–82)o After more than 400 years of power, in 1767, the

Kingdom of Ayutthaya was brought down by

invading Burmese armies, its capital burned, and the

territory split.

o General Taksin (now known as King Taksin the Great)

managed to reunite the Thai kingdom from his newcapital of Thonburi and declared himself king in 1769.

o Later due to stress and many factors, King Taksin went

mad. General Chakri (later becoming Rama I) helped

run the empire instead. The King Taksin ordained as a

monk and ventured into the forest and never to be

seen again. General Chakri succeeded him in 1782

as Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty. In the

same year he founded the new capital city

at Bangkok, across the Chao Phraya river from

Thonburi, Taksin's capital. In the 1790s Burma was

defeated and driven out of Siam, as it was then called.

Lanna also became free of Burmese occupation, but

the king of a new dynasty who was installed in the1790s was effectively a tributary ruler of the Chakri

monarch.

Thon Buri Period (1767–82)

Rattanakosin (Late 18th Century to present)

o It included vassal states of Cambodia, Laos, and someMalay kingdoms. The kingdom was formation by

Chakri Dynasty until 1932 came into being when King

Rama I ascended the throne in 1782.

o King Rama I was determined to build a new capital to

revive the glory and splendor of old Ayutthaya.

o The new capital was located on the island of

Rattanakosin, protected by river to the west, series of

canals to the north, east and south.

o Economic activity in the Rattanakosin Era was

primarily agriculture.

o Thai art, culture, philosophy, and literature was

created, developed and mainly influenced by

Buddhism and Hinduism religion.

o Architectures of this period

are divided into 4 groups:

o Architectural style of athe

declining period of Ayuthaya

(lopburi style and prang)

Lopburi Architectural Style

o Were mostly constructed frombricks and cut stones with

influences from both the

Mahayana Buddhism sect

and the Hinduism religion.

Prang

o A prang is a tall finger-like

spire, usually richly carved.


Prang at Wat Arun


o Architectures constructed during the reign of King

Rama III had either one of the two distinctive

characteristics („in‟ or „out‟).

o The „in‟ type was the one with traditional gable ends

decorating the roof while

o the „out‟ type‟s, the gable ends of the roof were

plainly constructed with bricks and stucco or

Geological Setting

o Brick- (around 12th century)replaced sandstone as the

favored mortar, bound with vegetable glue, and thensheathed in carved stone

o Stucco- a sand, lime, and glue mixture strengthened

by a terra cotta armature, was later used to cover the

brick walls

o Wood- was employed in temple construction andcraftsmen attained great skill in carving decorative

elements, in the heavily forested north.

o Sandstone- was used to form door parts, lintels, and

rectangular windows

o Porcelain fragments- influenced by the Chinese, it can

be seen in some ornamental decorations

o Materials such as glass mosaic pieces highlightedgables and pillars, as well as wooden and stucco

figures, and other decorative techniques utilized

lacquer, gilt, mother-of-pearl inlay, gold leaf, and

porcelain fragments to obtain the desired effect

ofgleaming elegance.

Geological Setting

Architectural Characteristics

Thai Architecture

o reflects the influences of the Buddhist countries and

of the various groups with which it has mingle and

o associated for two millenia.

o At various stages down the years, the cultures of

Burma, China, Khmer, India and Sri Lanka, can all be

seen to have had an important and distinctive

influence on architecture in Thailand.

o Most noticeable in Thai architecture are the

swooping multi-tiered rooflines, the distinctly

ornamental decorations, the stunning interior murals,

the vivid colors and the lovingly crafted and gold-

adorned Buddha images.

Traditional Architecture

Thai House

o the basic thai house of the past, rarely seen today,

was simple structure of bamboo and thatch, raised off

the ground for protection against floods and wild

animals

o Most family life took place on a veranda-like platform

outside the one or two rooms that served as sleeping

quarters.

o This model evolved into more complex structures of

wood, varying both in form and decoration to suitconditions in different regions but always retaining

their essential simplicity

Central Plains Houses

o Elevated on stout round posts, it has steep roofs withcurved bargeboards and paneled walls leaning

slightly inward; the various components are

prefabricated to enable easy dismantling and

reassembly. The simplest house consists of a single unit

with an outside veranda, while those accommodatinglarger families might have several separate units

arranged around a central platform.


The Northern houses

o The northern Thai houses

differ significantly from its

counterpart in the Central

Plains.

o The walls lean outward,

giving it a sturdier look, and

windows are often smaller.

o Kalae- V-shaped decorative

feature at the ends of the

roof

o Some authorities believethey represent a pair of

buffalo horns.


Northern rice barn

o A rice barn is a

component of most

traditional

compounds in the

northern region.

o Raised on pillars and

with a ladder for

access, it is a solid

structure with few

windows, used to

store grain.


Royal houses

o were similar in design to

those of commoners

except that they were

generally closer to the

ground and had more

decorative features.


Characteristics

o Roof Gable (Ngao)

o A distinctive feature of the

Central Plains house is theelegant curved

decoration at the ends of

the peaked bargeboards

surrounding the gables.

o Known as ngao, itevolved from Khmer

architecture and appears

in elaborate form on

religious buildings and

palaces. A Stylized versioncan also be seen in

domestic houses.


Paneling

o Paneled walls are a relativelyrecent addition to the Thai

house

Gate

o Houses belonging to more

prosperous families usuallyhave a gate, often sheltered

by a Thai-style roof that

opens on to the central

platform.

o A jar of water is placed atthe bottom of the steps so

that visitors and residents

can wash their feet before

coming inside the house.


The Sala

o An open-sided pavilion

o familiar structure in Thailand

found in the courtyards of

temples and along heavily

traveled routes.

o serves as a shelter, givingshade from the hot tropical

sun and heavy monsoon

rain.

o It also is a „living room‟ and

a hub for community social

gatherings and village

activities.


Religious Architecture

o Regardless of historical

period, the most importantarea of religious

architecture is the Thai

temple or wat.

o The Thai wat is a group of

buildings each serving

various purposes and

usually set within a walled

enclosure.

o In addition to being a

place where the lessons of

Buddha were taught, the

Thai wat was traditionally

a school, hospital,

community center and

even an entertainment

venue.

o follows a similar set of design principles and the same

can normally be said for the functions of the various

buildings within the complex

o Architectural modifications have been made and the

overall style of each of the buildings may vary

considerably

o There is also a symbolic significance to each and

every part of the Thai wat complex. The capitals of thecolumns, for example, are shaped like lotus buds or

water lilies symbolizing the purity of Buddha's thoughts.


Parts of a Wat

The Bot

o All wats usually include an ordination or assembly hall

known as the bot or sometimes known as an ubosot.The bot is reserved for monks to perform ceremonies,

meditate and sermonize. It faces east and usually

houses the main Buddha image.

o Ubosot:

o Wat Benchamabophit


Bai Semas

o Surrounding the bot are bai semas. These are sacred

boundary stones, used to demarcate the sacred

ground of the bot and to keep away evil spirits.Normally eight are used in total, but double slab

stones for royal wats. This is also an example of how

animist beliefs coexist with Buddhism.

The Chedi

o The Chedi is a solid domeshaped structure where

relics of Buddha may be housed, such as a bone

fragment or hair, or the ashes of a past king. Some

Thai wat complexes are specifically designed and

built around the sacred Chedi.


The Vishnu

o At the top of a Chedi may be a

stylized thunderbolt sign of the

Vishnu, an ancient Hindu lord of

the universe.

The Wihan

o A second assembly hall, similar

to the bot but usually larger, is

the wilhan. Within a complex,

there may be several wilhanand each may have an eclectic

mix of architectural styles. The

wilhan is used by laypeople to

make their offering before a

large Buddha figure. Normallythere are no bai sema

surrounding the wihan.


The Prang

o A few wats have prangs, which are

towering phallic spires as can be

seen in the famous Wat Arun on the

banks of the Chao Phraya river in

Bangkok.

The Chofa

o The chofa is perhaps the most

recognizable architectural detail in

any wat. Chofa means, „tassel of air‟

and its shape is thought to derive

from a highly stylized Garuda, a

fierce bird featured in Hindu

mythology. The Garuda is also a royal

symbol and can be seen on other

buildings Chofa on the top of a roof

of Wat Pangsank Taii. denoting that

they operate „by royal appointment‟.


Chofa on the top of a roof

of Wang Pangsank Taii

The Mondop

o The mondop is a square-based

structure topped with either a

cruciform roof or a spire. The

edifice contains sacred text oran object of worship.

The Bodhi tree

o Most wats will also include a

Bodhin tree (Ficus religiosa),

also known as the Sacred Figar

Pipal tree. The Buddha is

thought to have attained

enlightment (Bodhi) while

neditating under a Bodhi Treeat Boghi-Guy in India.


Mondop at Wat Arun

The Bodhi tree

o Most wats will also include a Bodhi tree (Ficusreligiosa), also known as the Sacred Figar Pipal tree.

The Buddha is thought to have attained enlightment

(Bodhi) while neditating under a Bodhi Tree at Boghi-

Guy in India.


The Cloister

o The cloisters or main wall will

enclose the main area of the

wat complex (known as the

phutthawat). The cloisters are

sometimes painted withdecorative murals and also

may house a row of Buddha

images.Cloister at Wat Phra Kaew

The Sanghawat

o These are the monks„ living

quarters and dormitories and

are usually in a separate

compound.

The Ho Rakangs

o These are bell towers and are

used to toll the hour and

summon the monks to prayer.

The Minor Salas

o This hall acts as a meeting

place for Pilgrims.


The Ho Rakangs

The Minor Salas

o This hall acts as a meeting

place for Pilgrims.

The Ho Trai

o This is the wat library and

houses Holy Scriptures. Aho trai is a rare feature of

the wat complex. In the

countryside they are

usually on a high base or

surrounded by water to

minimize insect damage

by insects.


Ho Trai at Wat Phra Singh,

Chiang Mai


o A Kuti is a small structure, built on

stilts, designed to house a monk.

Its proper size is defined in the

Sanghathisep, Rule 6, to be 12 by7 Keub (or 4.013 by 2.343 meters).

This tiny footprint is intended to

aid the monk's spiritual journey by

discouraging the accumulation

of material goods. Typically amonastery consists of a number

of these buildings grouped

together on a shared terrace,

either in an inward facing cluster

or lined up in a row. Often thesestructures included a separate

building, called a Hor Trai, which

is used to store scriptures.

Royal Architecture

o Royal houses and

mansions are typically

a mixture of Thai wat,

traditional Thai house

style and western

architecture.

o Teak wood is the main

structural material of

such buildings, givingthem their distinctive

rich red color. The

doors and windows

Royal Architecture

o The 'red house' at the National Museum in Bangkok is

a typical royal house and a good example of Thai

royal architecture.

o Royal wats can be identified by usually have ornate

pediments and frames, which are sometimes

decorated in gilt bronze.

o Like the Thai wat, the roof of the royal building will

have a chofar and normally the roof tiles are made of

finest teak wood.

o the prefixes of Rat, Raja or Racha in their names. There

are only 186 such wats under royal patronage in the

whole of the country.

The Grand Palace

o Wat Phra came to

be known as the

Grand Palace, in

which the earliest

edifices

contemporary with

the foundation of

Bangkok were the

two groups of

residences named

the Dusit Maha

Prasat and the

Phra Maha

Monthian.

The Grand Palace

Phra Maha Montian

o This consists of three main buildings,namely :

1. The Audience Hall of Amarin Winitchai- where the

ceremonies of the Court usually take place

2. Paisal Taksin Hall where the coronation of a monarch

takes place with its coronation chair and the

octagonal seat wherethe monarch receives thepeople's invitation to rule

3. Descending from here we come to the antechamber

to the Chakrapat Phiman building

The Grand Palace

Dusit Maha Prasat Hall

o Here we have an

audience hall with a

throne of mother-of-

pearl surmounted by

the usual ninetiered

white canopy, the mark

of a duly crowned king.

At the back of this

audience hall is yet a

living quarter. All are

built in pure Siamese

architecture of perfectproportions.

o Boron Phiman Mansion

Phra Thinang Borom

Phiman: built in the

western style in 1903 by

King Rama V for the Heir

Apparent, the futureKing Rama VI, this

mansion was also used

at various times as a

royal residence by King

Rama VII (1925-1935),King Rama VIII (1935-

1946), and the present

King Rama IX.

GOOD DAY!

Thailand Architecture

Design

Transcript of Thailand Architecture