Profane Temple: Transforming Sacred Space to Profane Space in Buddhist Temple, Thailand

Chatri Prakitnonthakan (Silpakorn University)

My research focuses on the transformation, in a social and political context, of contemporary Buddhist temple spaces in Thailand. Over the past 100 years, these temples have undergone a transformation from sacred spaces to signifiers of profane space. The article argues that there are three factors in this transformation. Firstly, artistic objects in the temples that were representative of Buddhist cosmological beliefs have become signifiers of Thainess and civilization. Secondly, in the mid-20th century, the Thai government changed its funding policies, forcing the transformation of temples into trade and tourist spaces to ensure their survival. Finally, buildings surrounding the temples that originally served to "simulate" and "mimic" the structure of the spiritual world in traditional society have become a showpiece for the individual creativity and identity of architects and artists. Buddhist temples in Thailand have been fundamentally transformed from sacred spaces to works of art.

Keywords: profane temple, Buddhist temple in Thailand, sacred space, profane space

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