Sim Isan: Development and Paradigm on Architectural Studies

Abstract

This article examines the academic discourse and educational development concerning Sim Isan (northeastern Thai ordination halls) through a systematic review of fifty-two academic publications spanning 1982-2024, including monographs, journal articles, and theses. The analysis identifies six primary research paradigms: (1) architectural stylistic analysis, (2) craftsmen's methodologies and artistic influences, (3) stylistic development and transformation, (4) conservation-oriented studies, (5) traditional wisdom and construction techniques, and (6) interdisciplinary approaches.

Based on a chronological analysis of published scholarship, Sim Isan's architectural development can be delineated into five distinct phases: Phase 1, the Lan Chang era, represents the foundational period characterized by architectural transmission influenced by Lan Chang's artistic and cultural traditions; Phase 2, the reign of King Rama III-IV (1824-1857), witnessed an architectural transition from Lan Chang craftsmanship toward vernacular temple typologies; Phase 3, the late reign of King Rama IV to the pre-constitutional era (1858-1931), was characterized by Vietnamese demographic displacement, resulting in Sim Isan forms that incorporated colonial architectural influences alongside Central Thai stylistic elements; Phase 4, the post-constitutional era (1932-1957), reflects state-directed cultural homogenization through nationalist policies that promoted standardized architectural prototypes derived from Central Thai canonical forms. This widespread dissemination of standardized designs consequently reduced traditional Sim Isan numbers through systematic demolition and reconstruction practices; Phase 5, the contemporary era (1958-2024), represents the modernist phase, characterized by the integration of reinforced concrete structural systems. This technological adoption has generated architectural diversification through material innovation, construction methodologies, and symbolic reinterpretation.

The analysis of academic literature reveals that the Sim Isan scholarship has undergone a paradigmatic shift from initial investigations focused exclusively on physical architectural attributes toward interdisciplinary approaches that conceptualize architecture as a manifestation of cultural production processes. Contemporary scholarship examines Sim Isan beyond morphological characteristics, emphasizing the dynamics of transformation resulting from economic, social, and cultural factors that have altered traditional design and construction methodologies from historical practices. Concurrently, the conceptual boundaries of "Isan" have transcended Thailand's northeastern geopolitical demarcation, evolving into a cultural territory characterized by a harmonious way of life through adaptive responses to increasingly complex external influences.

This phenomenon is evident in Sim Isan's architectural evolution across historical periods, demonstrating a transformation from traditional Lan Chang artistic forms to hybrid architectural styles that incorporate colonial influences through Vietnamese artisan techniques, subsequently amalgamating with Central Thai stylistic elements. This evolution has culminated in contemporary Sim Isan employing modern materials and construction methodologies, consequently generating enhanced stylistic diversification. Previous scholarship has demonstrated the complexity of stylistic origins, evolving from traditional Lan Chang temple forms inherited through Tai-Lao and Isan cultural groups across the Mekong River basin toward contemporary pursuits of regional identity and cultural authenticity within current social dynamics. Sim Isan represents one manifestation of this cultural creative process.