Nepali Times introduces history of Thailand through Buddhist architecture in an eight-part series.
After the fall of the Ayutthaya kingdom, Thonburi was founded as the capital of Siam. The period lasted only 15 years (1767~1782) and was thus too short for the Siamese to create enough representative art works.
Furthermore, some architectural work which might have been executed during this period do not have enough documentary evidence. Also, there is not enough representative architecture to constitute another discrete artistic style. Therefore, the Buddhist architecture created during the brief 15-year Thonburi Period is generally classified as Late Ayutthaya in style.
The Rattanakosin style began in 1782, when King Rama I established Bangkok as the capital of Thailand, and has continued to the present. Religious structures of Rattanakosin Period were mostly characterized by the style of Ayutthaya architecture.
The chedi with three or more rabbets on the four angles, together with the prang, was quite popular during the reigns of King Rama I, Rama II and Rama III (1782~1851). Important examples are the large rabbeted chedi named Phra Chedi Si Sanphetchadayan at Wat Pho and the prang at Wat Arun in Bangkok.
The ubosot and wihan buildings during the Early Rattanakosin Period also followed the style of Ayutthaya. In other words, the base of buildings was still curved, such as the ubosot base at Wat Phra Si Rattan Satsadaram or the temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, built in reign of King Rama I and largely restored in the reigns of King Rama III, V, VII and IX. This curved line disappeared later on from Thai architecture.
During the reign of King Rama III, Chinese art was very popular for numerous ubosot and wihan structures were constructed in imitation of Chinese buildings without Thai style roofing decoration. The roof was composed of brickwork, instead of the wooden structural members, and the buildings were embellished with Chinese glazed tiles and coloured pieces of porcelain at various parts such as roofs and gables respectively. Good example is the main edifice of Wat Ratcha Orot in Bnagkok.
From the reign of King Rama Ⅳ, Western style began to exert its influence on Thai architecture. Some buildings were transformed and fashioned with the new architectural style.
Especially in the reign of King Chulalongkorn or King Rama V, official buildings were built in imitation of European architecture. For instance, Wat Niwet Thammaprawat in Ayutthaya was constructed in Gothic style during his reign. Later on Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok was built with white marble from Italy in the early 20th century.
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