Semiotics in Buddha Image Board (Phra Phaeng Maii) of Chiang Rai - Phayao provinces

Abstract

Buddha Image Board (Phra Phaeng Maii) are wooden panels that are systematically decorated with Buddha images, numbering from one or more. In the past, they could be found in every area of Lanna. However, at present, the creation and culture related to buddha Image board (Phra Phaeng Maii) have greatly decreased, resulting in the knowledge about buddha Image board (Phra Phaeng Maii) being almost lost. This research article is part of the research on Lanna buddha Image board (Phra Phaeng Maii): creative and conservation
processes. This research aims to analyze buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) in Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces based on Charles Sanders Peirceís semiotic theory. This research is qualitative research. The population is a buddha Image board (Phra Phaeng Maii) in Chiang Rai-Phayao province, totaling 14 panels. The research results found that out of the 14 panels, there were inscriptions on 2 panels. The styles of buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) found, arranged from most to least, consisting of 3 panels of Naga arch frames, 2 panels of
Banphathan arch frames, 2 panels of lotus petal frames, 2 panel of arch-shaped arch, 1 panel of glass house-shaped arch, 1 panel of rounded arch-shaped arch, 1 panel of castle-shaped arch, 1 panel of Tung-shaped arch, and 1 panel of
triangular frames. The iconic Mode of the buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) include the Buddha amulets that represent the Lord Buddha and the wooden panels that represent the Gandhakuti or the building where the Lord Buddha. The indexical Mode of the buddha image board (phra phaeng maii) appears in the decoration of the Buddha images on the wooden panels, which represents the many Buddhas of the past. The decoration of the buddha images with 28 images is the most common, which represents the 28 buddha families.
As for the symbolic form (Sign, Symbol) of buddha image board (phra phaeng maii), it appears in the wishes at the end of the inscription, which are related to three kinds of happiness: sensual pleasure, meditation pleasure, and nirvana pleasure.