Inventive Buddhist Craftsmanships Of Society In Northern Thailand

Abstract

This research is aimed to study history, form, type and patterns of Inventive Buddhist Craftsmanships of Society in Northern Thailand. It is called “Lanna lantern”, which Included traditional and application production forms. It is a qualitative research, which uses observation and interviewing. The research area was Mueang Satar Luang Community, Nong Hoi Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The key informants, including folk sages, community leaders, religious leaders, producers, and traders, were totally 59 key informants by using purposive sampling. The data collection Methods were document analysis and in-depth interview. The first result has shown that Lanna lantern is intellectual life which intergrades Brahmanism and Buddhism. These are created through art for worshiping the Buddha in the Yi Peng festival (Loy Krathong) according to the belief that the light from the lanterns will give them a good life and prosperity. There are 4 types of Lanna lantern that Mueang Satar Luang Community has produced: (1) Hand  lantern, (2) Hanging lantern, (3) Floor lantern and (4) Floating lantern, which divided out 10 types of lanterns: (1) Sema Dhammajak lantern or octagonal lantern (2) Jar lantern (3) Grajang lantern (4) Star lantern (5) Ngieow lantern (6) Rabbit Ear lantern (7) Cylinder lantern (8) Phat lantern (9) Aeaw lantern and (10) Japanese lantern. There are 16 patterns of Decorative Ornamentations appreciatingly such as Dok Bua, Dok Jok, 12 zodiac animals, etc. The second result is the traditional production of Lanna lanterns which have been used natural materials but nowadays, the application production in modern styles can be use available materials in the market that is uncomplicated to find and safe the time in production. There are 5 main steps of the traditional production and the application production: 1) preparing the equipment for making the lantern’s structure, 2) wrapping mulberry paper or textile on the structure, 3) intergrading the lantern tail, 4) folding and dressing for the decoration and 5) decorating the lantern to the decoration design.