The Practical Norm in Designing the Cetiyas’ Internal Based Grids Found in Lanna Ancient Manuscripts

Abstract

The thematic paper entitled “The Practical Norm in Designing the Cetiyas’ Internal Based Grids Found in Lanna Ancient Manuscripts” is of two objectives: 1) to examine the practical norm of building a Cetiya based on ancient scriptures and construction of a Cetiya in the Lanna region and 2) to analyze the ideological model and practice in determining the table of foundation planning and Buddhist Doctrines relating to the elements contained in the table inside the Lanna Cetiya. It is qualitative research by studying information from documents and interviews.

The construction of a pagoda in Lanna was inherited from the construction of a stupa in India during the Buddha's time and later developed into the construction of a pagoda after the Buddha's time. After that, the construction of the Cetiya was spread into Lanna through the kingdoms of Dvaravati, Sri Lanka, and Burma. The Saa Folding Book of Lanna specifies the ideological of making a table of the foundations of the Catiya for containing sacred objects, such as Buddha's relics, Buddha images, valuables, etc. There are two types of table plans, one with 9 squares for containing a general type and a grid with 25 compartments for eccentric packing.

However, the schematic diagram of the chedi in Lanna has evolved from the scriptures of the Tripitaka. Later, in the reign of Asoka the Great, a pagoda was built and transferred to Sri Lanka where the foundation plan of the stupa was built according to the motto Satta Maha Sathan, the seven important places where Lord Buddha stayed after his Enlightenment. That is to say, there are tunnels and halls under the

stupa that directly and indirectly influence Burma and Lanna. As for the morale that is an element contained in the Cetiya diagram table, there are two characteristics and importance, namely the Satta Maha Sathan Model and the second is the 24 Conditions Model, the main idea is on the stone seat where the Buddha sat in a posture of meditation under the Bodhi - Tree and retained Enlightenment.