The art of the Northern kingdoms of Thailand was Buddhist, and the Buddha image was at its core. The purpose of traditional Buddhist art was not to delight the eye or "decorate," but to remind, enlighten, and instruct. For many years art historians considered the sculpture of Northern Thailand, or Lan Na, to be a minor tradition. This volume shows that Lan Na sculpture is an enormous body of work beginning with the Mon-Hariphunchai period of the eleventh century, through the Classic period of Lan Na’s Golden Age in the fifteenth century, up until Lan Na’s integration into the rest of Thailand. It is a tradition of surprising diversity positioned alongside the other great Southeast Asian art traditions - the Dvaravati and Sukhothai in Thailand, the Pagan in Burma, and the Khmer in Cambodia. This comprehensive and attractive reference is divided into four parts: the historical and cultural background; the analysis of Northern Buddha images, including iconography, style, techniques, and dating; the types of Northern Buddha images; and associated Buddhist sculpture, such as footprints and mythical creatures. The Buddha images are classified by style and date, using those images with inscribed dates as the armature around which to cluster the undated statues. The images are analyzed in detail and placed in their historical, cultural, and religious context. Richly illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this volume is an indispensable reference and guide to Buddha images and other Buddhist sculpture of Northern Thailand.
