Thailand Throne Hall Architecture in the Grand Palace in the Early Days of Ratthanakosin Era

Authors: Somchai Seviset, Lin Jian Qun

Abstract:

Amarindra-vinitchai-mahaisuraya Bhiman throne hall is one of the most significant throne halls in the grand palace in the Ratthanakosin city situated in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the first group of throne halls built in order to serve as a place for meetings, performing state affairs and royal duties until the present time. The structure and pattern of architectural design including the decoration and interior design of the throne hall obviously exhibits and convey the status of the king under the context of Thai society in the early period of Ratthanakosin era. According to the tradition of ruling the kingdom in absolute monarchy which had been in place since Ayutthaya era (A.D.1350-1767), the king was deemed as Deva Raja, the highest power and authority over the kingdom and as the greatest emperor of the universe (Chakkravatin). The architectural design adopted the concept of “Prasada" or Viman which served as the dwelling place of the gods and was presented in the form of “Thai traditional architecture" For the interior design of the throne hall, it had been adopted to be the heaven and the centre of the Universe in line with the cosmological beliefs of ancient people described in scripture Tribhumikatha (Tri Bhumi) written by Phra Maha Thamma Raja (Phraya Lithai) of the Sukhothai era (A.D.1347-1368). According to this belief, the throne hall had been designed to represent mount Meru, the central of the universe. On the top end of Mount Meru is situated the Viman and dwelling place of Indra who is the king of gods according to the idea of Deva Raja (the king god Avatar). At the same time, Indra also existed as the king of the universe simultaneously.

Keywords: Amarindra-vinitchai-mahaisuraya Bhiman throne hall, throne hall architecture, grand palace, Thai traditional architecture, Ratthanakosin era

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1334576

References:

[1] B. Tipakornwong, The Royal Annals of Rattanakosin King Rama I, Bangkok: Kurusapa Trade Organization, 1983, pp. 7.
[2] B. Royal House Hold, The Grand Palace, Bangkok: Thaiwattanapanit, 2004, pp. 18-20.
[3] A. Patkiya and N. Aiewsriwong, Collection of articles regarding the History of Early Ayutthaya Era Sriramthepnakorn, 2nd ed. Bangkok: Matichon, 2002, pp. 19.
[4] H. Gelden, and Robert, "Concepts of Kingdom and Monarchy in South East Asia", Social Science, N. Aiewsriwong Transl. Apr-Sep. 1982, pp. 24.
[5] N. B. Supaparn, Traditions: Beliefs and Practice from the Sukhothai until the Mid of Ayutthaya Period, Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Printing House, 1992, pp. 36.
[6] M. Thavornwatsakul, Ayutthaya Noble Men, Bangkok: Thammasart university, 1993, pp. 47.
[7] B. Royal House Hold, The Grand Palace, Bangkok: Thaiwattanapanit, 2004, pp. 33.
[8] B. Tipakornwong, The Royal Annals of Rattanakosin King Rama III, Bangkok: Kurusapa Trade Organization, 1960, pp. 121-123.
[9] N. Saksri, and team, "The Study on the Architectural Evolution in the interior Royal Court of the Grand Palace in the Reign of King Rama I until King Rama V B.E. 2325 - 2453". Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University, 1984, pp. 121-123.
[10] B. Tipakornwong, The Royal Annals of Rattanakosin National Library of Thailand Edition King Rama IV, Bangkok: Kurusapa Trade Organization, 1961, pp. 130.
[11] O. His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, The Architecture of Royal Palace, Bangkok: Bangkok Printing House, 1988, pp. 67.
[12] O. His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, The Architecture of Royal Palace, Bangkok: Bangkok Printing House, 1988, pp. 70.
[13] S. Jirathassakul, Beliefs,Symbolism and Meaning of Thai Arch and Windows,Bangkok: Amarin Printing Publishing, 2003, pp. 100-106.
[14] S. Jirathassakul, Beliefs,Symbolism and Meaning of Thai Arch and Windows,Bangkok: Amarin Printing Publishing, 2003, pp. 106.
[15] Sripanya, Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua Phra Bat Somdet, Gods and Interesting knowledge, Bangkok, 2004, pp. 88-90.
[16] P. Suwankiri, Thai Patterns, Bangkok: Faculty of Architecture Chulalongkorn University, 1999, pp. 53.
[17] F. W. Bunce, A Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconology, New Delhi: D.K. print world, 1997, pp. 337.
[18] F. W. Bunce, A Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu Iconology, New Delhi: D.K. print world, 1997, pp. 234.
[19] P. Supanimitra, The puzzle of Himmaparn, 2nd ed. Bangkok: Ammarin, 2008, pp. 58.
[20] P. P. Kunaporn, Develop Thailand's society with knowledge, understanding Thiphum, Bangkok: Dhamma Sapa the buddha printing house, 2010, pp. 50-52.