ABSTARCT

            This thesis entitled “An Analytical Study of the Great Characteristics in the Important Lanna Buddha Images”. The objectives of this research are as three follows: 1) to study the Great characteristics of the Buddha in Buddhist scriptures, 2) to study the Buddhist Characteristics of important Buddha image in Lanna, and 3) to analyze the Great Characteristics in important Lanna Buddha image.

             1) The great characteristics of the Buddha appeared in Buddhist scriptures

   According to the study of the 32 great characteristics of the Buddha found that there was only the Buddha who completely acquired thirty two kinds of characteristics by evidence and description in detail of many Pititaka such as Abhidhamma referred to the great characteristics. In Vinaya Pitaka mentioned the characteristics of the Buddha and the two principles that who completely acquired such the great characteristics if that one was the householder, one would be the emperor. If that one was ordained, that one would be enlightened, and also find that the 32 great characteristics of the Buddha was the characteristics of the great person and the person who was the great person and completed the great characteristics and the enlightenment was that the Buddha had to practice completely thirty kinds, including, namely, Ten ordinary perfection, Ten superior perfections and Ten supreme perfections.

2) The Buddhist Characteristics of important Buddha image in Lanna

According to the study of the Buddhist characteristics of Phra Si Hing, Wat Phra Sing, Chiang Mai found that it was the Buddha image of Chiang Saen Singha Nueng that was the characteristics of Singha and it was Lanna art. The second period was the characteristics of Buddhist art, the Buddha image was sitting cross-legs with legs locked together, Corpulent body, round face, Smiling expression, knot of chin, knot of hair was big, the top of skull was marble like a lotus flower, the edge of short yellow robe was over the breast. The important characteristics was different the art of Pala, Pagan and Hariphunchai, including the cloth edge that separated into two edges.

          According to the study of Buddha characteristics of Phra Kaew Yok, Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Ra found that the characteristics of Buddhist art of Emerald Buddha was the attitude of meditation, sitting cross-legs with one top of another over smooth base, the face was quite round that was the first group of Lanna Buddha image. The important characteristics were sitting cross-legs with legs locked together, round face, halo like lotus bud and the edge of short yellow robe over the breast, particularly, called the first Singha of Chiang San style, but it was different that Emerald Buddha sat cross-legs with one top of another, there was the edge of yellow robe stretch to the navel that was the influenced by the Sukhothai.         

According to the study of the Buddha characteristics of Phra Chao Kao Tue at Suan Dok Temple, Chiang Mai found that it was the attitude of subduing Mara, sitting cross-legs with one top of another in the Lanna art of Chiang Saen Singh Song style, including the Buddha image that there was influenced of Sukhothai art, sitting cross-legs with one top of another over smooth base, oval face was quite small, knot of hair was small, the halo was high flame, fragile body, a big and long yellow robe stretch to the navel according to the example of Lanna Buddha images that found a lot in the 21^st Century (the reign of King Mueang Kaew) by the special form that was a big and long yellow robe stretch to the navel that was influenced of Ayouthaya art.

3) The Great Characteristics appeared in the important Lanna Buddha image

         According to the analysis of the great characteristics appeared in important Lanna Buddha image found that it concerned with the great characteristics of three organs, including there were long fingers, straight body like Brahm in order to show the result of merit that His Majesty didn’t kill the animals, kindness on them, shame and benefit others, all parts of body as the front body of lion, the groove of the back was always full, the round neck equally those showed the benefit that His Majesty who wish the prosperity to people with faith, observing the precepts, hearing, knowledge, donation, Dhamma and wisdom,  the sacred prosperity with Sutta, Buddhism and wisdom, the head was decorated with a face in order to show the benefit that His Majesty who was a leader in conducting the three Sucarita.

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