The Splendour of Thai Buddha Bronze Scultpure
According to Pratapaditya Pal, curator, "Buddhism began as a simple monastic religion in the fifth century B.C.... To begin with it was a religion that used no human images and the stupa served as the principal votive symbol.....By the second century A.D....the Buddha Sakyamuni was deified and his image became the most potent symbol for Buddhists, replacing the stupa in importance."
"An early form of Buddhism, known as Theravada, or the doctrine of the elders, is still practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and to a lesser extent in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Theravada iconography is relatively simple, consisting mostly of images of the Buddha, which are worshipped in temples within a monastic complex."
Today the Buddha remains the principal motif in Thai art. "However, there can be little doubt that the fundamental religious and aesthetic ideas that shaped the sculptural traditions of Southest Asia originated on the Indian subcontinent. ...During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries Thailand was both politically and culturally dominated by the Khmer civilization of Cambodia, so that scholars speak of Khmer or Khmerizing styles in Thailand. A truly distinctive national Thai style appeared only after the emergence of the Ayuthhya kingdom following the dissolution of the Kambuja kingdom in Cambodia."The history of Thai sculpture is divided into several schools named after kingdoms of that period. However various schools frequently interacted with each other making definition of a certain style difficult in many instances. One of the earlier schools is named after the Dvaravati kingdom which flourished in southern Thailand between the sixth and eleventh centuries. Other schools include Lopburi and Chiang Saen (far north).
The first truly independent Thai kingdom,the Sukhotai was established around 1243 and lasted for less than 200 years. The Ayuthaya kingdom arose in the Chao Phya during the fourteenth century until it was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. The U-thong style was a prominent style in the interlude years between the Sukhotai and Ayuthaya kingdoms. The kingdom then established itself in Bangkok in 1782 when King Rama I started the Chakri dynasty which continues today.
The Thai Buddha bronze sculptures shown below are reproductions. Antique Buddha sculpture is not allowed to leave Thailand. These new bronzes embody splendid craftsmanship and are very affordable. Most of the examples show the Buddha in Bhumisparsamudra.
The seated Buddha bronzes come in three heights of about 23 inches, 33 inches and 54 inches. The walking or standing Buddha bronzes are about six feet tall. Any of them make a dramatic statement in an entry foyer. I highly recommend these beautiful works of art in any Asian interior design style. The bronzes are particularly selected for their simple beauty and calm facial expression.
TB42M: Sukhotai Style, Bhumisparsamudra, "Touching the Earth." Simple
robe. Unadorned with no jewels throughout. Chignon knots end in a flame
surmounted ushnisha very typical of Sukhotai style. The Sukhotai style
is the most distinctive expression of the Thai aesthetic. This style started
in the early part of the fourtheenth century and remains the norm for all
succeeding generations of Thai Buddha art.
TB77W: Walking Buddha, probably Dvaravati style, gesture of
"Turning the Wheel." Notice the draping folds of the simple robe which
has a sort of translucency. The hand gestures are posed gently
and beckoning. Forehead spots an urna. Earlobes are long. Hair worn
in a tight chignon, no flame.
TB43M (Left): Seated, again probably Dvaravati, 'Touching the Earth." Face is more rounded. Eyes half open. Lotus plinth. Tight hair chignon ends in a plain ushnisha.
TB46w (Right): Sukhotai Walking, "Protection, benevolence, peace." Hand gestures in double Abhaya mudra which symbolize protection, benevolence and peace. This mudra is very much associated with the walking Buddha, also called "the Buddha placing his footprint."
TB62L: Khmer style, "Touching the Earth." The Khmer style has more
adornment and ornaments on the body. Forearm and shoulder bracelets, ear-rings
and a crown versus the typical hair whorl symbolizing knowledge. Notice
the distinctly thick molded lips (Angkor).
TB70L (Right): Unusual and probably Dvaravati style in "Turning Wheel Law"
hand gesture. Notice the small plinth is not lotus like. Eyes open. Long ear
lobes. Plain robe.
TB48L (Left): Sukhotai in "Touching the Earth" position on a plain plinth.
Hair chignon is topped with a flame ushnisha.
TB01S:
Bronze Buddha 21.5" high. Buddha is seated on a lotus
blossom in the sacred gesture of Bhumisparsamudra in which the
right hand is extended to touch (sparsa) the earth (bhumi) . Buddha
Sakyamuni is said to have made this gesture as he became enlightened
below the Bodhi tree after having resisted the temptation of Mara,
the Buddhist god of desire. Since there was no one else around,
he called on the earth to witness his victory over Mara.
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