The City Pillar of Metropolitan Phetchabun: The Integration of Traditional and Modern Concepts in the Art and Architecture of City Pillars after the 1932 Revolution
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The City Pillar of Metropolitan Phetchabun was built between 1943-1944, when there was a plan to move the capital from Bangkok to Lom Sak District, Phetchabun Province, following the idea of Prime Minister Field Marshal P. Phibul Songkhram. As part of a new city planning design, where various government offices were located as a system according to their missions, the city pillar was thus located in the middle of the traffic roundabout at the heart of the new city centre, related to other essential elements of the city.
Made of Chaiyapruek wood, the City Pillar is octagonal, with its overall composition consistent with Bangkok’s city pillar. However, in the creation of the new capital pillar, four modern concepts can be observed as follows: 1) the use of “modern construction techniques” in the making of the City Pillar, 2) the change of forms, 3) the reduction of decorative patterns, and 4) the artistic expression of “strength and power” using geometric forms, angles, straight-lines, rather than curves as customarily employed in traditional Thai arts. Meanwhile, traditional Thai practices can still be acknowledged such as the uses of “sacred” wood as a material for the city pillar and of nine kinds of “auspicious” woods in pillar erection ceremony.
The changes indicate the integration of “Traditional Arts” with “Modern Arts”, befitting Phibul Songkhram’s idea of creating a new centre for the new capital, at the centre of which the City Pillar was erected. The erection of Phetchabun's City Pillar marked not only the establishment of the new capital but also the ‘modern’ concept of city pillar design.
Downloads
Article Details
References
Anan Phibunsongkhram. čhō̜mphon Por phibūnsongkhrām [Field Marshal P. Pibunsongkhram]. 2nd ed. Bangkok: Lineage of Phibunsongkhram, 1997.
Anek Navikamul. singphim Sayām [Siam Publications]. Bangkok: River Books, 1999.
Bureau of Bangkok. The Office of Civil Affairs. čhotmāihēt ʻong ʻanusāwarī mư̄ang bāng kō̜k [The Archives Stories of the Monument of Bangkok City]. Bangkok: The Office of Civil Affairs, Bureau of Bangkok, 2016.
“Celebration of the Constitution of 1946, 1945, 1994 and 1943.” Ministry of Education’s documents. Sor. Tor. 0701.23.2/42. National Archives of Thailand.
Chanthit Krasaesin. phra lakmư̄ang [Phra Lak Muang]. 4th ed. Bangkok: The War Veterans Organization of Thailand
under Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, 1982.
Chatri Prakitnonthakan. kānmư̄ang læ sangkhom nai sinlapa sathāpattayakam Sayām samai Thai prayuk chātniyom
[Politics and Society in the Art of Siamese Architecture, Thai Era, Applied Nationalism]. Bangkok: Matichon, 2005.
Chatri Prakitnonthakan. sinlapa sathāpattayakam khana rātsadō̜n: sanyalak thāngkān mư̄ang choēng ʻudomkān [Art and Architecture of People’s Party: Ideological Political Symbols]. Bangkok: Matichon, 2009.
Chiraphon Wittayasakphan. “nayōbāi watthanatham khō̜ng čhō̜mphon Por phibūnsongkhrām [Cultural Policy of Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram].” In banthưk kān sonthanā čhō̜mphon Por phibūn songkhrām kap kānmư̄ang Thai samai mai [Record Conversation Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram and Modern Thai Politics], 243-251. 2nd ed. Bangkok: Foundation for Social Sciences and Humanities Textbook Project, 2001.
Churairat Laksanasiri. “kān prapprung ʻaksō̜n læ ʻakkharawithī Thai samai čhō̜mphon Por phibūnsongkhrām [Improving the Thai Alphabet and Orthography in the Field of Field Marshal P. Pibul songkram].” Literature Journal, Silpakorn University, no. 20 (June 1997-May 1998): 5–21.
Damrong Rachanuphap, H.R.H. Prince, Krom Phraya. phrarātchaphongsāwadān krung Rattanakōsin ratchakān thī sō̜ng [The Royal Chronicles of Rattanakosin, Reign of King Rama II]. 9th ed. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department, 2003.
“Establishment of a Statue in the Constitution Celebration December 21, 1948.” Ministry of Education’s documents 0701.23.2/43. Sor. Tor. National Archives of Thailand.
Fine Arts Department. čhotmāihēt kānʻanurak krung Rattanakōsin [Rattanakosin Conservation Archives]. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department, 1982.
Juthamas Pramoolmak. “mūnhēt hǣng kānsāng phrabō̜romrāchānusāowarī somdet phračhaotāksinmahārāt: khō̜thetčhing thāng prawattisāt læ phalang čhāk thō̜ngthin [The Cause of the Creation of the King Taksin Monument: Historical Facts and Local Power.” Thammasat Journal 27, 2 (June 2006): 112–139.
Morris, A. E. J. History of Urban Form: Before the Industrial Revolutions, 3rd ed. New York: Longman Scientific &
Technical, 1994.
Nangnoi Saksi and others. ʻongprakō̜p thāng kāiyaphāp krung Rattanakōsin [Physical Elements of Rattanakosin].
Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University, 1991.
Nattanit Kachen. “kānʻō̜kbǣp phangmư̄ang samai čhō̜mphon Por phibūnsongkhrām (Phō̜.Sō̜. 2475-2487: lop burī, sa burī læ phet būn [Urban Planning Design During Field Marshal Pibulsongkhram Period (1932-1944 C.E.): Case Studies of Lopburi, Saraburi and Petchabun.” Master Thesis, Silpakorn University, 2015.
Nithi Iaewsriwong. “songkhrām ʻanusāwarī kap rat Thai [Monument war with the Thai state].” In chāt Thai, mư̄ang Thai, bǣprīan læ ʻanusāwarī [Thai nationals, Thailand, Textbooks and Monuments], 89-124. Bangkok: Matichon, 1995.
Nithi Iaewsriwong. “rabō̜p sombūranāyāsitthirāt Thai [Thai Absolute Monarchy].” Silapa Wattanatham 15 (3 January 1994): 110-114.
Panarsaree Raksa and Somchart Chungsiriarak. “sathāpattayakam samai mai nai mư̄ang lop burī [Modern Architecture in The City of Lopburi].” Najua: Architecture, Design and Built Environment 32 (January-December 2017): A69-A87.
Phiboon Hathakitkosol. “ʻanusāwarī Thai: kānsưksā nai choēng kānmư̄ang [Thailand Monument: A Study in the Politics].” Master Thesis, Chulalongkorn University, 1984.
Phrom Phichit, Phra. phut sinlapa sathāpat tayakam phāk ton [Buddhist Art, Architecture]. Bangkok: Tha Prachan
printing, 1952.
Pornlert Phantwattana. “khrōngkān yāi mư̄anglūang čhāk Krung Thēp pai phetbūn khō̜ng ratthabān čhō̜mphon Por phibūnsongkhrām [The Project to Move the Capital from Bangkok to Phetchabun, the Government of Field
Marshal P. Pibulsongkram].” Master Thesis, Silpakorn University, 1978.
Pornphan Kerdphol. “kān plīanplǣng khati khwām chư̄a rư̄ang saolakmư̄ang samai Rattanakōsin tangtǣ Phō̜.Sō̜. 2325-2535 [The Change of Beliefs in the City pillars in Rattanakosin period during 1782 to 1992].” Master Thesis, Thammasat University, 1999.
Prateep Malakul, M.L. sathāpattayakam samai mai [Modern Architecture]. 2nd ed. [Bangkok]: Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, 1986.
Pusdee Thiptus. sathāpanik Sayām phư̄nthān botbāt phonngān læ nǣokhit (Phō̜.Sō̜. 2475-2537 [Siam Architects, Basic, Roles, Works and Concepts (1932–1944)]. Bangkok: Association of Siamese Architects, 1994.
Wimol Tangcharoen. sinlapa samai mai nai prathēt Thai [Modern Art in Thailand]. Bangkok: Odean Store, 1991.
Wimolsit Horrayangkura and others. phattha nākān nǣo khwāmkhit læ rūpbǣp khō̜ng ngān sathāpattayakam ʻadīt patčhuban læ ʻanākhot [Development of Concepts and Styles of Architecture, Past, Present and Future]. Bangkok: The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, 1993.
Santi Leksukhum. khō̜mūn kap mummō̜ng : sinlapa Rattanakōsin [Information and Perspective: Rattanakosin Art]. Bangkok: Muang Boran Printing, 2005.
Santi Pakdeekham, čhaophrayā pdinthō̜ndēchā (singha singha sēnī) samuhanāyok mǣthap yai phūsamret rātchakān nai songkhrām ʻānām Sayām yut [Chao Phraya Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni), Grand Commander, Regent in the War of Arnamsiamyuth. Bangkok: Matichon, 2017.
Saran Thongpan. “sinlapakam hǣng khana rāt kān prakūat pranīt sinlapakam nai ngān chalō̜ng ratthammanūn Phō̜.Sō̜. 2480 [Fine Arts of the People's Party. Fine Art Contest in the Celebration of the Constitution c.1937].” Muang Boran Journal 18 (1 January-March 1992): 99-108.
Sawan Tangtrongsittikul. “kānsāng lakchai kǣn mư̄ang mư̄a rǣk sathāpanā krung Rattanakōsin ʻin ʻayōthayā [The
Creation of the Lak-Chai Kaen-Muang at the Beginning of Rattanakosin Inn Ayothaya.” Silapawattantham 36, 6 (6 April 2015): 102–118.
Somchat Chungsiriarak. “čhit winyān bǣp Thai samai mai: phonngān sathāpattayakam bǣp Modernism khō̜ng phra phrom Phičhit [Modern Thai Spirit: Modernism Architecture of Phra Phrom Phichit].” Muang Boran Journal 27, 1 (January-March 2001): 113-121.
Somchat Chungsiriarak. “phonngān sathāpattayakam bǣp Modernism khō̜ng phra phrom Phičhit,” [Architectural Modernism of Phra Phrombhichitr].” Najua: Architecture, Design and Built Environment 17 (September 2000-August 2001): 19-28.
Somjai Nimlek. “sāttrāčhān phra phrom Phičhit kap ngān khō̜nkrīt nai sathāpattayakam Thai [Professor Phra Phrom Phichit with concrete work in Thai Architecture].” In The History and Important Works of Phra Phrom Phichit, 35-40. Bangkok: Sirimitr Printing, 1990.
Suthachai Yimprasert. phǣn ching chāt Thai [The Pillage Thai National Plan]. Bangkok: Samaphan, 1991.
Suthee Kunawichayanon. čhāk Sayām kao sū Thai mai : wādūai khwām phlik phan khō̜ng sinlapa čhāk praphēnī kao sūtai mai læ rūamsamai [From the Old Siam to the New Thai : the Turning of Art from Old Traditions to Modern and Contemporary]. Bangkok: Art Gallery, Silpakorn University, 2002.
Thewa Pinimmit, Phra. samut tamrā lāi Thai [Thai Art Textbook]. Bangkok: Nakornkhasem Bookstore, 1974.
Thongchai Likitpornsawan, ed. samut phāp thīeo thī tāng tāng [Various Travel Scrapbooks]. Bangkok: The Original Press, 2015.
Wichit Mattra, Khun (Sanga Kanchanakphan). Krung Thēp mư̄a wān nī [Bangkok Yesterday]. 4th ed. Bangkok: Sarakadee, 2002.
Wisarn Kositanont. nakhō̜nbān phet būn Phō̜.Sō̜. 2486-2487 [Nakornban Phetchabun c. 1943– 1944]. Accessed May 20, 2016. Available from https://www.facebook.com/wisonk/media_set?set=a.10151920894682168.1073741862.613647167&type=3