A visit to a temporary exhibition at the National Museum Bangkok at the former Front Palace near Sanam Luang is a good way for tourists to explore India, Thailand and some other Southeast Asian countries through Buddhist art. The ongoing exhibit entitled "Buddhist Imagery From Bharata To Suvarnabhumi" celebrates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Thailand and India and the 25th anniversary of the Asean-India relationship.
"Buddhism and Indian Buddhist art spread far and wide and had a great influence upon the creation of art and tradition of all Southeast Asian countries. Over a long period of time, India and Thailand share the same belief in the fundamental role of cultural heritage and in strengthening the people's knowledge on the protection of this heritage," Fine Arts Department director-general Anandha Chuchoti said.
The show displays 64 major Buddhist artefacts, all made of stone. These art pieces are related to Buddhism in India, Thailand and certain Southeast Asian countries, such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia from 200 BC until the 14th century. They are categorised according to the history of the creation of religious objects and Buddha images. The history spanned from the construction of sculptures as the symbols of the Lord Buddha, auspicious Buddhist sculptures, those depicting the stories of the Lord Buddha's life and previous lives and his great miracles to Buddha statues of different postures. All these statues were inspired by Indian art and developed in line with local art and materials based on local ways of life and ideologies.
Stepping into the museum's Itsarawinitchai Throne Hall, you will first see two stone simha (lion door guardians), Central Java art, 9th century, from Candi Borobudru in Central Java, Indonesia, as well as a statue of Hindu god Ganesh, 10th century from Madhya Pradesh, India.
The bas-relief depicting the Lord Buddha's First Sermon (Gandhara art, India, 1st-4th centuries) from the royal collection.
The dharmachakra found at Wat Saneha, Nakhon Pathom.
You will then see some of the first dharmachakras, or the Wheel of Dhamma, found in Thailand. They were discovered at Phra Pathom Chedi, a huge stupa dating to the Dvaravati Period in Nakhon Pathom. Deer images found nearby them convinced scholars to believe that they symbolise the Buddha's first sermon in Sarnath. You will also see the 7th-8th century dharmachakra from Wat Saneha in Nakhon Pathom, which carries inscriptions in Pali and Pallava letters. The creation of these dharmachakras was inspired by sandstone pillars related to Buddhism and set up by King Asoka who reigned India from 272-232 BC and was a great patron of Buddhism.
Another masterpiece at the exhibit is the bas-relief depicting the Lord Buddha's First Sermon which is Gandhara art, India, of the 1st-4th century from the royal collection presented to the National Museum Bangkok in 1926. This relief portrays the Wheel of the Law, sitting on a plinth under a Bodhi tree, flanked by the Lord Buddha's first five disciples wearing monk robes as well as the standing gods Indra and Brahma.
Another good example of Gandhara art of India, 1st-4th century, is a seated Buddha image with his right hand in the forgiving gesture and the left one holding the end of the robe. The statue was made of grey schist stone and shares certain characteristics with the Greco Roman, Hellenistic style (323 to 31 BC) by having a Greek god charm on his nose, a natural-style hair bun and a heavy pleated garment. It was presented by Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, Rangoon, to King Rama V.
The bas-relief depicting the seated Lord Buddha protected by the Naga and flanked by two stupas supported by two dwarves, which is Dvaravati art of the 7th century found at Wat Pradu Songtham, Ayutthaya province, reflects the influence of India's Amaravati art school and Indian architectural tradition.
Meanwhile, the bas-relief depicting the standing Lord Buddha flanked by god Brahma on the right and god Indra on the left is an outstanding piece of Pala art from eastern India, dating to the 9th century.
Another masterpiece is the relief depicting the Walking Buddha with inscriptions. This Sukhothai art piece dates to 1375 and is from Chantharakasem National Museum, Ayutthaya.
The 'Buddhist Imagery From Bharata To Suvarnabhumi' exhibition. Pichaya Svasti
This seated Buddha image in the forgiving gesture is Gandhara art of India, 1st-4th century, and shares certain characteristics with the Greco Roman, Hellenistic style.
The relief depicting the Walking Buddha with inscriptions (Sukhothai art, 1375).
The stone model of the Buddha's footprint, which is Ayutthaya art of the 15th Century found at Wat Phra Ram, Ayutthaya, is an example of Buddha-pada, a major symbol of the Buddha's presence in an early period of Buddhism. The innermost part of this art depicts dharmachakra and 108 auspicious symbols. According to the handbook for the exhibition, the development of Buddhist imagery and decoration in Southeast Asia was strongly affected by local artistic styles and available materials.
Archaeological excavation shows most people in Suvarnabhumi (or parts of this Southeast Asian region) were originally animist and practiced ancestral worship. By the beginning of the 3rd century, religious beliefs and practices of indigenous people were replaced by Hinduism and Buddhism from India.
The earliest evidence of Bharata's influence can be traced to the 4th to 2nd centuries BC. An earlier small stone Buddha image found in Wiang Sa, Surat Thani province, was made in India during the 5th century under the Gupta art influence. Therefore, it is understood that Buddhism was introduced and cultivated in Thailand from that time. History shows that the rulers of early states from Dvaravati (6th-12th century) to Tambralinga (late 12th-13th century) and former Thai kingdoms from Sukhothai (13th-15th century) to Thon Buri (1767-1782) were devout Buddhists and built many stupas and Buddha images.
While exploring this exhibit, you will learn about Indian, Thai and other Southeast Asian Buddhist art and the long-time continuation of contacts, ties and mutual influences.
The 'Buddhist Imagery From Bharata To Suvarnabhumi' exhibition. Pichaya Svasti
