Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the unique bronze images of female Buddhist monastics (bhikkhunis) and Mahaprajapati in the congregational hall of the Thepthidaram temple. The 52 images reflect the importance of women in monastic literature and the increasing role of female practitioners in Bangkok in 1830s.

Paper long abstract:

King Rama III (King Nangklow; r. 1824-1851) was great patron of Buddhism. Temples built during his reign are distinctive not only because they were built in a hybrid style that combines Thai and Chinese architectural elements, but also because they are adorned with images and murals with subjects that had not been popular in any other earlier period. In the 1830s, King Rama III built two temples that were dedicated to two female royal family members: one for his favorite daughter, HRH Princess Wirat, and another for his favorite niece, HRH Princess Sommanat Wattanawodi. The two temples (Wats Thepthidaram and Ratchanadha were built side-by-side on Mahachai Road in Bangkok.

This paper focuses on the unique bronze images of female Buddhist monastics (bhikkhunis) and Queen Mahaprajapati Gotami, the first bhikkhuni who was the Buddha's aunt and step-mother, in the congregational hall of the Thepthidaram temple. The fifty-two bhikkhuni images reflect the importance of women in Buddhist monastic literature as well as the increasing role of female Buddhist practitioners in Bangkok in 1830s.