The History and Meanings of the Replication of Phra That Phanom Stupa

Abstract

Given the historical significance of Phra That Phanom in Thai-Lao culture, it has consistently attracted academic interest. This importance has led to its architectural design becoming a model that has been replicated in various contexts. This article aims to investigate the meanings underlying the replication of Phra That Phanom by adopting theoretical approaches in architectural history as a framework for interpreting the development of architectural symbolic systems, constituting a history of meanings and symbolic forms. The study employs historical contextual analysis to examine and interpret the intentions and purposes embedded in the replication of these symbolic forms.

The study reveals that Phra That Phanom has unique characteristics. The replication of its design began during the reigns of King Rama III-King Rama IV to represent the culture of Lan Xang, extending beyond the boundaries of the Lan Xang civilization. Subsequently, between 1911 and 1916, the architectural form of Phra That Phanom began to be adopted as a representative model for stupas enshrining the Buddha’s relics at Phra That Tha Uthen, and it was further linked to the cycle of the Chronicle of Urangkhathat at Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok. At the same time, administrative reforms in the Mekong provincial regions led to the construction of replicas of Phra That Phanom, which came to embody the status of city stupas in Renu Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom.

In 1940, the government redesigned Phra That Phanom to make it taller and incorporate a Thai-style aesthetic. This design became the standard for Phra That Phanom and remained until its collapse in 1975. The Thai government subsequently rebuilt Phra That Phanom and initiated annual celebrations. The newly constructed Phra That Phanom now represented the original Phra That Phanom, located at Phu Kham Phra, as outlined in the Chronicle of Urangkhathat. Meanwhile, the original design of Phra That Phanom transitioned to symbolize Phra That Renu, Phra That Tha Uthen, and Phra That Nakhon.

Thus, a physical structure occupying a sacred space for an extended period would naturally evolve into a symbol of that sacred place. Subsequent replicas of Phra That Phanom did not necessarily represent Phu Kham Phra, where Phra That Phanom is located, but rather served to connect with the original Phra That Phanom within the broader context of the Isan region, which is linked to Lan Xang culture and the Chronicle of Urangkhathat.