Reconsidering on Lanna Buddhist Statues : Attitudes, Symbolism, and Artistic Influences

Abstract

Originally, the creation of Buddhist statues in Lanna served not only as religious merit-making but also held significance in relation to political power and influences from neighboring cultural spheres. For instance, the adorned Lanna-style Buddha statues may symbolize the representation of royal governance authority by the monarch, as the Lankan Dynasty endorses Buddhism as the state religion. However, this relationship extends to iconography and the artistic style influenced by Pala-Pukam art. This article aims to present insights into the knowledge regarding the artistic patterns of Lanna-style Buddha statues, their meanings, and values. It begins by exploring the developmental history of Buddhist statue art in Lanna, followed by the beliefs in creating distinctive Lanna-style Buddha statues that differ from other regions. Lastly, it discusses the patterns of creating adorned deities in Lanna, connecting to certain categories of Pukam-Pala, which may signify the complexity of Buddhist beliefs in Lanna, best reflecting a nuanced societal worldview.