THE CONCEPTS AND IDENTITY OF THE MOSQUE ARCHITECTURES IN NONTHABURI, PATHUMTHANI AND PRANAKORNSIAYUTTHAYA

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to study the influencing factors, the concepts and the identity of mosques in Nonthaburi, Pathumthani and Pranakornsiayutthaya provinces, which are important factors that create unique architectural styles developing along with changes in society and the way of Muslim life in the 3 provinces. The study focuses on the selected 30 mosques from the data of 115 registered mosques in 3 provinces, analyzed according to the developing process of each of the 5 periods:

Period 1: Ayutthaya period

Period 2: Thonburi period - King Rama III

Period 3: King Rama IV - King Rama VI

Period 4: King Rama VII - King Rama VIII

Period 5: King Rama IX - A.D. 2018

The study found that Muslims in the 3 provinces have important concepts about mosques like other Muslims, such as viewing mosques “as the house of God”, “as the Muslim community center” and “as Islamic architecture that reflects the identity of the Muslim community”, which leads to the expression of identity in various issues, including:

1. Communicating ethnicity

2. Communicating the Ummah or the Islamic nation

3. Communicating faith and remembrance of God and the prophet

4. Communicating religious teachings