The Image of “Dhamma Raja” in Emerald Buddha Praising Chan and Dusadi Sungvoey Chan of Emerald Buddha

Abstract

This study aims to compare a concept of “Dhamma Raja” image transmission in 2 Dusadi Sungvoey Chan: Emerald Buddha Praising Chan of His Royal Highness Prince Krom Phraya Decha Disorn and Khun Sara Prasoet, and Dusadi Sungvoey Chan solemnizing the Emerald Buddha and Kap Khub Mai solemnizing Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The study focuses on the image of the king which have transmitted through the concept of Dhamma Raja in 2 Kingdom of Thailand’s dynasties: under the reign of King Rama IV and King Rama IX. The study found that both 2 Dusadi Sungvoey Chan contain the images of Dhamma Raja in 3 characteristics, which are Dasa Raja Dhamma, Ratcha Sangkha Wattu, and Chakrawat Diwat. The factors that differentiate the image transmission of Dhamma Raja are the king’s ethic, the state of society, and the context of transmission. The implication which were hidden in both chan are the mentioning of the king’s competence in poetry, language, creating a job, and preservationg of Buddhism. It can bee seen that both Dusadi Sungvoey Chan have completely reflected the king’s ethic and his skill in poetry which shows the devotion to Buddhism, and also implicated the honor of Thai kings through the concept of “Dhamma Raja.”