Abstract:
To understand the uniqueness of the Viharas in Lanna culture in Chaing Mai province, and their design concept in order to design a Vihara at Lok-Mo-Li Temple, which is one of the most important archaeological sites in Chiang Mai. The research methods are historical research and also surveys, which are done within Chiang Mai Province with 10 examples of Viharas that were constructed or reconstructed before B.C. 2426. Thereafter, the architectural style of the central regions influenced the North. Study of the architectural and historical aspects shows that the Viharas in Lanna in Chaing Mai school have a unique style which appeared in the 24th century of the Buddhist era. The one is the original local style and the other is the development of Vihara Lanna in Lum Pang school which appeared in the 21st-22nd century of the Buddhist era. The uniqueness of architectural style of Vihara Lanna in Chaing Mai school is that the Vihara is the main building of the temple. The plan of the Vihara has added edged rectangular shapes (two in front and one in rear). The Vihara has a high base, enclosed wall, and windows. The Vihara has the old style of roof structure called "ma-tang-mai". The Vihara in Chaing Mai school has a more slender form than the Viharas in other Northern artisan works, and the decoration of the Vihara is the concepts of protection, the religius world, the nostalgia of Buddha, celebration, and the auspiciousness of Vihara.