Patterns of Stucco Buddha Statues in The Mekong Riverine Provinces of Upper Isan

Abstract

This research study to 1) to study the history and art styles of Buddhist art of Buddha images in Loei, Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom provinces, and 2) to study the concepts of Buddha images in the upper northeastern provinces along the Mekong River. Qualitative research was used by collecting data from documents, field research and in-depth interviews with 120 informants, consisting of 30 experts, 50 practitioners and 40 general public. Data were collected using descriptive and analytical methods. The research results showed that 1) the history and art styles of Buddhist art of Buddha images in Loei, Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom provinces, the characteristics of Buddhist art of Buddha images in the study area were influenced by external artistic values and were developed and integrated with Lan Xang Buddha images perfectly. Lan Xang Buddha images can be divided into 3 eras: (1) early Lan Xang Buddha images, (2) early and middle Lan Xang Buddha images, and (3) early and late Lan Xang Buddha images. 2) The concept of stucco Buddha images in the northeastern border provinces. Stucco Buddha images are important for the study of Buddhist art and the study of the concept of stucco Buddha images in the northeastern border provinces. This information is a part of the beliefs about the Buddha image of the local people that have been passed down in the past, consisting of the promotion of Buddhism in terms of the mind, Buddhist teachings, society and history, which is considered a belief that has been passed down from the past to the present regarding the stucco Buddha image in the Northeast.