Thailand Throne Hall Architecture in the Grand Palace in the Early Days of Ratthanakosin Era
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.
[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.
[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.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:56950", author = "Somchai Seviset and Lin Jian Qun", title = "Thailand Throne Hall Architecture in the Grand Palace in the Early Days of Ratthanakosin Era", 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", volume = "6", number = "8", pages = "2161-10", }