The Wooden Buddha Footprint with Mother-of-Pearl Decoration of Wat Phra Singh: Art Innovation in the Period of Lanna Golden Age

Abstract

The Buddha footprint in wood with mother-of-pearl inlay at Wat Phra Singh temple, located in the city centre of Chiang Mai, is one of the most significant and outstanding Buddhist artworks in the first half of 21th Buddhist century which is the period that the Lan Na Kingdom was prosperous, generally called “The Golden Age of Lan Na.” This article will suggest that the Buddha footprint in wood with mother of-pearl inlay was created not only for showing reverence but the creator intended to embody perfect beauty and symbolic values in Buddhism and politics such as the presentation of the Five Buddha Families, the Greatest Emperor, Buddhist cosmology and the originality in the composition of 108 sacred pictures. Moreover, in materials and techniques, it is also the oldest gold pattern and mother-of-pearl inlay artwork. It significantly shows art and craft wisdom. It is the evidence that supports the concept of the Golden Age of Lan Na.