Abstract:
This qualitative research entitled the Characteristics of Classical Dance Depicted in Tribhumi Painting Books from the Ayudhaya to the Rattanakosin Periods aims to compare the characteristics of classical dance in different eras and examine the relationships between classical dance and religious, social, and cultural contexts. The hypotheses were that the characteristics of Tribhumi painting books differed depending on historical periods, that old dance postures disappeared and new ones not recorded in previous instructional materials or included in basic dance postures emerged, and that Thai classical dance from the past till the present was related to the contents of Tribhumi in Buddhism. The scope of the study was the classical dance depicted in twelve Tribhumi painting books kept at the National Library of Thailand, Wasukri Pier. The research results were as follows. First, the twelve painting books comprised five from the Ayudhaya period, two from the Thonburi period, and five from the Rattanakosin period. The Ayudhaya painting books contained 136 images depicting classical dance, while the Thonburi painting books contained 68 and 40 for the Rattankosin painting books. Second, the depictions of classical dance were identified in realms related to the Sensuous Plane, such as several levels of Heaven, the Himavanta, and the Ten Jataka, including in the biography of Lord Buddha. On the other hand, classical dance was not depicted in such realms as Nibbana, the Incorporeal Plane, preta, and asura, thereby leading to its performance only for Buddhist worship or as homage to kings. Third, the most frequently found dance posture was thep phanom a posture demonstrating angels travel with their magical ability to fly which represented respect to Lord Buddha and holy spirits. Other dance postures commonly found in Tribumi painting books were cherdchin (expression of beauty), trawen weha (sky scouring), klang amphon (middle of the sky), and bua chu fak (rising lotus). The popularity of such postures is likely attributable to their clear presentation of beauty, pleasure, and joy. Fourth, thirteen dance postures were found to disappear or emerge. Fifth, the dance postures depicted in Tribhumi painting books involve the use of the body, the hands and the feet. Rolling and flinging the wrists to form a perpendicular hand posture were common, whereas the hand posture involving pressing the index finger against the thumb with the other fingers spread upward was not found. Finally, in Tribhumi painting books across the three periods, resemblances were identified in terms of the composition of images and contents but not in terms of the use of hands and feet, body size, costume, and props