| Abstract: |
This thesis focuses on the cult of votive tablets in Thailand (sixth to thirteenth centuries). My intention is to conduct an extensive study of the iconographic and stylistic development of the tablets and on the changes of philosophical ideas and religious forms. Geographic movement of this cult in Thailand began approximately in the sixth century. Prior to the Thai periods the cult of votive tablets was practiced differently in each region
however, by the fourteenth century under the Sukhothai dynasty, this cult was practiced more uniformly. This thesis is divided into nine chapters. Chapter I (Introduction) introduces the subject and discusses its historiography. Chapter II focuses on an introduction of Buddhism to Southeast Asia and on schools of art in Thailand from the sixth to the twentieth century. Chapter III concentrates on the origins of the cult of votive tablets in India with the emphasis on the Pala and Sena periods (eighth to twelfth century) and the Pagan period of Burma (eleventh to thirteenth century). The study of stylistic and iconographic development is divided into four regions: the Central Plain (chapter IV), the Peninsular Region (chapter V), the Northeast Plateau (chapter VI) and the Northen Region (chapter VII). In each region geographical and historical factors are featured in the introduction of each chapter. The stylistic and iconographic development are established by the study of tablets recovered from the largest sites. Chapter VIII focuses on the Khmer hegemony in all regions in Thailand (Tenth to Thirteenth Century), starting with the Central Plain, and following with the Peninsular Region, the Northeastern Plateau and the Northern Region. Chapter IX (Concluding Remarks) summarizes important observations regarding this study of the cult of votive tablets in Thailand.
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