PIBULSONGKRAM'S ORDINATION HALL STANDARDIZATION PLANS

Abstract

During Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram’s ultra-nationalistic and totalitarian regime, an act of parliament was passed (in 1940) to standardize Temple Ordination Halls throughout Thailand. The proposed standard building was based on Chinese Yuan craftsmanship, combined with local techniques and forms; for example, the decoration of the central building featured a curved half-circle with a the head pole.

Restrictions on the use of local construction and engineering techniques caused multiple problems for the builders of the ordination halls. The local craftsmen had no choice but to blend local techniques with the centralized plans which created wide variation across different districts and regions. As such, the centralized ideas of standardized temple ordination halls, as per the Government Administration Regulations Act, were unworkable in practice and must be considered a failure.