The Development of Knowledge and Creation of Buddhist Arts in the Mekhong Countries

Abstract

The research has the following objectives:    1)  to study the knowledge and the creation of Buddhist arts of the countries in the Mekhong River Basin,       2)  to organize activities for promoting the process of developing the knowledge and creation of Buddhist arts of the countries in the Mekhong River Basin,  3)  to create the network for cooperation in developing sustainable knowledge of Buddhist arts of the countries in the Mekhong River Basin.  It was a documentary and qualitative research.  The population and target group were 30  Buddhist monks, academicians, community leaders, temple liaisons and tourists.  In-depth interviews were the tools in this study.  The data from the research process were analyzed and synthesized for describing the results as specified in the objectives of the research.

Results of this research were as follows:

1. For knowledge and creation of Buddhist arts of the countries in the Mekhong River Basin, Buddhist arts were based on Buddhism as follows:  1)  Hoh-Trai and Hoh-Prabat in Wat Thung Si Mueang were the  mixed arts of the Northeastern and Central regions of Thailand.  The hall was enshrined with replica of Buddha’s footprint.  There were mural on all the inside walls.  They were one of the invaluable paintings in Ubon Ratchathani Province.  2)  Sim of Wat Chaeng, the temple hall was built in the Northeastern style with the influence of Rattanakosin arts.   3)  Wat Mueang-klang in Lao PDR, which was the oldest temple in Champasak Province.  The temple was located next to the Mekhong River bank at Ban Mueang-klang, Champasak District, Champasak Province.  Buddhist scriptures were kept in the temple hall.  These invaluable cultural arts and scriptures were worthily renovated and preserved.
2. The activities in developing the knowledge and creation of Buddhist arts were the renovations of Hoh-Trai as one of the three most outstanding cultural attractions in Ubon Ratchathani Province as a well-known proverb said :Phra Bot of Wat Klang; Phra Bang of Wat Tai; Hoh-Trai of Wat Thung”. The renovation of the temple hall of Wat Chaeng has been a continuous activity of creation of Buddhist arts of the temple hall by maintaining the original condition with the beauty of the Northeastern arts and its historical values.

3.Regarding the creation of network for cooperation in developing sustainable knowledge in Buddhist arts of the countries in the Mekhong River Basin, there was a signing ceremony of memorandum of outstanding as the network for developing knowledge in Buddhist arts between Wat Thung Si Muean and Wat Chaeng, Muean District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.  The temples were regarded as the center of arts for studying.  They were important driving forces for cooperation in systematically developing knowledge in arts.  They were linkages of learning sources in the Buddhist arts and attractive visual Buddhist arts sources that were the exquisite media of Dhamma teaching.  Buddhist arts are, therefore, invaluable for society and the nation.