Damrong Journal of The Faculty of Archaeology Silpakorn University

Syncretism of Buddhism with Brahmanism as Evidenced by Sanskrit Inscriptions in Thailand and Cambodia

Dr. Chirapat Prapandvidya — 2023-12-26

Brahmanism and Buddhism must have reached Southeast Asia around the 4th century CE as indicated by iconographic evidence. Epigraphic evidence indicates that Buddhism that used the Sanskrit language flourished in Funan in the 6th century CE alongside Vaishnavism. A large number of inscriptions in Pali, mainly containing extracts from the Buddhist Pali canon, could be found in the central part of Thailand during the 6th and 7th centuries CE. This indicates that Buddhism practiced in this area belonged to the Early Theravāda sect. During the same period, however, Brahmanism must have been followed by the people as well, judging from the few inscriptions in Sanskrit with Brahmanical content found in the area. In the later period there are sizable numbers of inscriptions in Sanskrit and Khmer found in Thailand and Cambodia that show syncretism of Buddhism with Brahmanism.

Reconstruction of Sutthasawan Throne Hall at Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, Lopburi Province

Dr. Santi Leksukhum — 2023-12-26

This paper aims to study the Sutthasawan Pavillion at Lopburi by data from archaeological excavations, archival documents, and information from ancient remains, as well as from other relevant sources gathered together to analyze and find a presumed example of the inner court area of Lopburi Palace. The palace is divided into two parts by an insulated wall. The front part is the Sutthasawan Pavillion; this throne is the royal resident. Therefore, there should not be a spire roof because it is not the throne for the royal ceremony. The back area is a row of residences of courtiers, and various planted trees. Western style fountains can be found at both the front and rear parts of this inner palace.

In Memoriam of the 100th birthday of Professor M.C. Subhadradis Diskul: Contributions to Archaeological Academia of Thailand

Dr. Jirassa Kachachiva — 2023-12-26

Professor M.C. Subhadradis Diskul has made many contributions to academic and cultural activities. This article aims to present the work of Professor M.C. Subhadradis Diskul, which includes various articles and books, museology, guide work, and bringing back Vishnu Anantasayin lintels to Thailand, all of which laid the foundation for education of archeology and art history in Thailand.

Social Networks in Log Coffin Culture, in Highland Pang Mapha District, Mae Hong Son Province (2,120-1,250 B.P.)

Chonchanok Samrit — 2023-12-26

This study aimed to reconstruct social networks in Log Coffin culture, Pang Mapha district, Mae Hong Son Province during 2,120-1,250 B.P. A total of 204 log coffins from
33 archaeological sites were analyzed using Social Network Analysis combined with the carbon-14 ages of log coffins. The results of this study revealed that the networks of coffin head types 1A, 1B, and 5D had the highest density. Types 2A, 2B, 5C, 6C, and 8D were parts of medium density networks. Types 5F, 6A, and 6F belonged to the lowest density networks. Thus, the density of a network is related to how long the types were made and used. Coffin head types with densely connected networks were made and used continuously for a long time, while the coffin head types with small networks were made and used for a short period. The results also showed that Lang, Mae Lana, and Khong sub-watersheds probably were the same cultural group because of the connections between these locales. Additionally, Archaeological sites with high degree centrality scores were locations in which a large number of coffins with various head styles and modified teeth were manifested. This indicates the relationships between different social groups. Further, Carbon-14 dates of log coffins and continuity and variation of coffin head styles demonstrated the dynamic nature of these networks. Finally, the results showed that in 1,700 B.P., interaction between different social groups and the expansion of networks occurred in highland Pang Mapha, evidenced by the distinctive head styles that were presented in this period.

Patterns and Origins of Buddha Images in the Early Period of Ban Chang Lo, Bangkok

Naran Akharanitipirakool — 2023-12-26

In the Rattanakosin era, Ban Chang Lo in the Siri Rat sub-district of Bangkok Noi district was one of the biggest and most significant metal casting communities in Thailand, particularly for Buddha images. The beginnings and origins of Buddha image casting in the Ban Chang Lo have been discussed in several previous works. Therefore, this study uses the art history method, combined with historical documents and interviews with the artisans, to discover the origin, time period, and causes that motivated the craftsmen in Ban Chang Lo to begin casting Buddha statues actively.

The results of the study of 37 floral robe Buddha images with inscriptions and evidence found in Ban Chang Lo are proof that Ban Chang Lo started to cast large amounts of Buddha images from the early 20^th century CE onwards. Meanwhile the Royal Foundry, which had done such business before came to a gradual decline in the same time period because of many internal problems. One of the problems is that Mom Chao Suban, the head of the Royal Foundry in the late 19^th century, accepted too much work to cast Buddha statues for the commoners that his subordinates felt affected. Therefore, the subordinates escaped to Ban Chang Lo.

For this reason, Ban Chang Lo was influenced by the Buddha image's stylistic characteristics and its casting technique from the Royal Foundry. Additionally, the Lanna Buddha statue, which was popular at the time, also had an impact on the style of the Ban Chang Lo Buddha statue. As a result, the Buddha images created by craftsmen in the Ban Chang Lo have distinctive characteristics of their own.

The Negotiation Process for Housing the Urban Poor in Taling Chan Railway Community

Preewara Meemak — 2023-12-26

This article aims to study and explain the negotiation process of the urban poor for housing. The study of documents and anthropology fieldwork by interviewing the urban poor in Taling Chan Railway community with a leader, community board, and community member was undertaken to find answers to the research question "What is the negotiation process for housing the urban poor in the case study area?” Using the concept of negotiation theory which considers structure and agency, the result reveals that the state's urban development has created urban poverty and community invasion. Additionally, the states have tried to demolish their homes leading to demands by the urban poor to negotiate over sustainable housing. In the case of Taling Chan Railway community, by creating a negotiation process, this has applied pressure to the government to solve the problems of their rights and security in their homes.

Friends after Retirement : The Use of Virtual Communities among the Elderly in the LINE Application Group

Chinnaworn Fardittee — 2023-12-26

This article aims to answer how a group of real-life nonacquaintance elderly behave in the virtual community and how the virtual community affects them. In-depth interviews and non-participant observations were used to collect data from a group of 5 Bangkokian elderly aged 60 years and older. They used the Pantip website and the Line application as their means of social gathering. The result indicates that before they retired, they had used Pantip to find interesting information in their free time. After retirement, they continued to use it to establish new relationships with other seniors whom they had never known in real life. Their participation in the website consequently led to a gathering in Line. This new platform of the virtual community allowed them a variety of interactions, namely sending and sharing pictures, information, and video clips, having conversations on topics of mutual interest, and arranging face-to-face meetings to foster further relationships in the physical space. Being part of the virtual community positively affected them in that they received more news and information, their loneliness was relieved and moral support was given. Nevertheless, social media gatherings undeniably had negative impacts on them. Their expenses increased as a result of the use of the virtual community, their social gatherings in the physical space, and their use of the virtual community for a long period caused health problems.

Islamic Reformation in Thailand by the Al-Islah Association Intellectuals, 1933-1957

Amin Lona — 2023-12-26

This article aims to study the Islamic reformation among Muslim intellectuals of Siam which was the movement whose beginnings coincided with the Siamese revolution of 1933 and lasted until 1957. The Islamic reformation during this period led to transfiguration of the Thai Muslim sense of identity. The study of how the Muslim intellectuals created the Islamic reformation during this period is an important piece in understanding the history, wisdoms and ideas of Thai Muslim society by giving a clear explanation of how religious thoughts—which include the Islamic school of thought, Islamic revival, the returning to adherence to the Quran, and the inner conflict of Islamic ideas—shaped the new figure of Thai Muslim society from 1933–1957 and how the political and social context of Siam was involved in shaping the figure of the Islamic reformation in Siam. Moreover, the arrival of the Islamic reform movement in Siamese society coincided with the context of great political changes which occurred in 1933. Under a more open political climate, religious identity was selected to replace the existing ethnic identity, becoming the key factor driving the importation of a new type of Islam that differed from the original perception of Islam among the Muslim population in Siam. This shift in religious identity later became a negotiating tool in relations between Muslims and the state power structure.

Initial Consonant Phonemes in Eight Burmese Dialects

Tanintorn Limpisiri — 2023-12-26

This review article aimed to synthesize the studies of initial consonant phonemes in 8 Burmese dialects, namely, Yangon, Rakhine (Arakan), Dawei (Tavoyan), Myeik (Beik, Mergui), Danu, Intha, Taungyo, and Yaw. The synthesis comprised 19 articles and research studies, divided into 16 English publications and 3 Japanese publications. The results of the synthesis showed that the number of initial consonant phonemes in all 8 Burmese dialects ranged between 24-34 phonemes: 32 phonemes in Yangon, 34 phonemes in Rakhine, 32 phonemes in Dawei, 27 phonemes in Myeik, 25 phonemes in Danu, 26 phonemes in Intha, 24 phonemes in Taungyo, and 32 phonemes in Yaw. The difference in the number of initial consonant phonemes in 8 Burmese dialects is due to the diverse development of sound correspondences in each dialect. Nine sets of sound correspondences were found: 1) /g-k/, 2) /d-t/, 3) /b-pʰ/, 4) /θ-sʰ/, 5) /z-s-sʰ/, 6) /m̥, n̥, ŋ̊, ɲ̊, l̥ - m, n, ŋ, ɲ, l/,
7) /kr, kʰr - tɕ, tɕʰ/, 8) /r-j/, and 9) /r̥-ʃ-tɕʰ/. These results revealed the status of the initial consonant phonemes studies in 8 Burmese dialects from the past until the present, which has never been collected nor presented before. It can also be beneficial as a reference source for the phonetic system of the Burmese dialects.

The Exploratory Research on Articles and Essays in Newspapers during the Reign of King Rama IV to King Rama VI

Tanaporn Siriphan — 2019-12-26

The purpose of this article is to explore written works in the form of articles and essays in newspapers during the reign of King Rama IV to King Rama VI by analysis of their origins and of their contents and compositional techniques. This research concluded that there is some confusion among the public, who thought of the articles and essays as the same entity because of the similarities between the two forms of written works. This resulted in the tendency of the public to simply call them “articles”. Nevertheless, the researcher found that “articles” and “essays” were not used in the same context upon the initial introduction of newspapers during the reign of King Rama IV to King Rama VI. Furthermore, these two types of written works are different in terms of both their content and their compositional techniques. When the Thai word for “article” was created in the year 1942, however, it became a label for all forms of literary prose. It can be concluded that this exploratory research on articles and essays could fill the knowledge gaps and understanding regarding the literature in the form of articles and essays during the period when literary prose was beginning to spread among Thai people and society.

Analysis of Vocabulary and Language Compilation in Ancient Textbooks of Nakhon Phanom National Library in Honor of Her Majesty the Queen

Dr. Punchaya Shivaniphat — 2023-12-26

This article aims: 1) to analyze knowledge and categorize information from ancient textbooks of Nakhon Phanom National Library in Honor of Her Majesty the Queen and 2) to translate the original document, which is an ancient dialect, into words in the present Central Thai language that people from all regions can read and understand. It is analyzed by collecting data from ancient vocabulary textbooks of Nakhon Phanom National Library. Then, researchers interview key informants to check the vocabulary and content. The study found that the knowledge and vocabulary category from ancient textbooks was able to collect 130 names of diseases or symptoms of diseases which could be classified into 15 groups: 1) the heart circulatory system, blood and lymph, 2) the respiratory system, 3) the gastrointestinal tract and excretion, 4) the urinary system, 5) the skin system, 6) the musculoskeletal and tendons system 7) the nervous system emotional state and behavior, 8) deterioration of the body, 9) parasites and infections, 10) the eye, 11) the ear, nose and throat, 12) the oral cavity, 12) the oral cavity, complications in pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period and 15) injury and poisoning. The main method of treating diseases was found to be through herbal remedies, with records of 25 methods of concocting medicines or preparing herbal medicines and 20 methods of using drugs. The names of herbs and other ingredients in the drugs include 308 names of plants, 43 animal items, and 7 mineral items. The ancient textbooks were found to contain other wisdom concerning healing in the field of pharmaceuticals and drug use, the use of herbs, and wisdom about language.

Editorial Team

- - — 2023-12-26

Editorial

- - — 2023-12-26

Peer Review

- - — 2023-12-26

สายธารแห่งความรู้และปัญญาในหนังสือเรื่อง “ประวัติศาสตร์เอเชียอาคเนย์ถึง พ.ศ. 2000” พระนิพนธ์ของศาสตราจารย์ หม่อมเจ้าสุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล

Dr. Nipat Yamdate — 2023-12-26