GUARDIAN DEITIES OF SAKHON BURI CITY: CARVED WOODEN TABLETS AT PUN TAO KONG SHRINE OF THA CHALOM COMMUNITY SAMUT SAKHON PROVINCE

Abstract

At the Pun Tao Kong Shrine in the Tha Chalom community of Samut Sakhon Province, six Jawets (sacred wooden tablets) depicting deities dressed in traditional Thai attire are preserved with no referring documentation. This article aims to study on artistic forms, dating and iconography of these wooden tablets which will relate to the history of Samut Sakhon City in ancient times. The results of analysis suggest their age from the mid-Ayutthaya to the late Ayutthaya periods (about mid 16th to mid 18th century AD).  The iconographic significance of these Jawets can be determined as the guardian deities. The most obvious example is the Jawet depicting a deity riding a bird, likely referring to Phra Kan Chai Si, one of the groups of ancient Thai city guardian deities. All of the Jawets were probably brought from Ban Tha Chin, the original community center, and thus likely represent the former city guardian deities. They are contemporary with the establishment of Sakhon Buri (former name of Samut Sakhon) in the Middle Ayutthaya period at mid of 16 thcentury AD, prior to its relocation of the city from Ban Tha Chin to the Mahachai region later during the Rattnakosin period after late 18th century AD.