Physical Space Changes in Phimai Town from Valuing on Phimai Sanctuary in the 21st to 22nd Buddhist Century

Abstract

This article aimed to study the physical space changes of Phimai Town that had relationship with meaning of Phimai Sanctuary during the 19^th to 20nd Buddhist century. The study revealed that there were changes in 3 significant durations as: - 1. In the Late Ayutthaya Period there were physical changes, caused by the Buddhist belief, around the main pagoda of Phimai Sanctuary. Moving temple from outside of the Phimai Sanctuary’ wall to the sacred mandala made some changes from a place of worship in Hinduism to a Buddhist temple of Theravada Doctrine, this caused a ritual space for supporting Buddhism instead of the ritual space of Hinduism until the middle of the 25th Buddhist century. The second duration was in the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), at that time Siam had some extreme adaptation for the coming of western countries as governmental reform and establishment of Monthon Tesapibal Administration in B.E. 2435 (1892). Governmental spaces were constructed in the former sacred space by using meaning as the center of Phimai Sanctuary by using a sermon hall in the temple as temporary district office. Finally, the third duration was in the early years of the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) caused by a new attitude from western countries related to archaeological sites was transferred through the king, members of the royal family and high society for placing importance on those sites all around Siam at that time effected many changes of physical spaces by moving temple out of the sacred mandala and knowledge frameworks in aspect of conservation began to change the meaning of Phimai Sanctuary. It was found that there was an attempt to restore the Phimai Town back to the former conditions as in the time of Khmer civilization. Spaces were changed by removing some buildings in the area of Phimai Sanctuary that had no relationship with the sanctuary. This was affected to physical spaces of the Phimai Town significantly that might be the beginning of conservative frame work on archeological sites affecting the Phimai Sanctuary and other historical sites through the country. Therefore, this article might be caused a good understanding of holistic physical changes of Phimai Town, providing of educational benefits in aspect of valuing and meaning of the Phimai Sanctuary and its physical changes in the future.