Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Five shades of beauty
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 14/01/2019
» Many Thais know and love Chinese blue and white porcelain. Yet, another kind of Chinese ceramics called Bencharong, literally meaning "five colours", is not so popular although it was custom-made in China for Siam.
Sophisticated art for royal funeral pyre
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/10/2017
» A funeral pyre for cremating a deceased royal is decorated with beautifully arranged flowers, carved banana stalks and fruits, and colourful papers as part of the royal paraphernalia. The funeral pyre for the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is more magnificent than anything ever made -- sophisticated handmade art fit for a great monarch.
Performing arts for the royal funeral
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 23/10/2017
» On the grounds of Sanam Luang this Thursday, dancers will dance, puppeteers will weave their magic and singers will croon sad songs. This is the time of mourning, but there is a centuries-old tradition of the royal court to host festivities on the occasion of a royal funeral. A wide range of majestic performances will grace the stages from 6pm on the royal cremation day until early the following morning.
'Stone doctors' operate in Thailand
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/04/2017
» Two pagodas of Wat Ratchaburana in central Ayutthaya are almost 600 years old, but their beauty is still visible due to conservation efforts. The remaining stucco and plaster at both stupas (prang and mondop), the Buddha statues at the Prang, the floral decoration at the east face of the prayer hall and the stucco at a small pagoda -- they have been preserved partly as a result of a German conservation project in close co-operation with the Ayutthaya Historical Park and Unesco Bangkok.
Honouring the dead
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/09/2016
» Until Oct 4, the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat is hosting its annual Buddhist festival -- "The Tenth Lunar Month Festival of Muang Nakhon", or Bun Duan Sib -- at Somdej Phra Srinagarindra 84 Park (Thung Talat Park) and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Little puppet master
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 27/06/2016
» Last month, hundreds of people were enjoying the traditional southern Thai shadow puppet performance known as nang talung. At a show at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre in Bangkok, they were mesmerised by the puppeteering, singing and dubbing skills of Thailand's youngest nang talung performer, Sakon Suwannakhot. This nine-year-old boy from Phra Phrom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, started practising the art at the age of seven. Today, he is the puppet master of a seven-member troupe under the Talung Dharma Youth Project of Wat Phra Phrom.
Creating a knowledge sharing culture
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/01/2016
» The famous Red Mill in the old town of Songkhla has long been a landmark of the province, where many people reminisce about the good old days. Through local initiatives, the mill has recently become much more than a symbol — it is a new learning centre and a model of community development that shows how bottom-up input can present a platform of knowledge to the people.
A lifelong love of learning
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 01/10/2012
» At the age of 94, royal scholar Prof Prasert Na Nagara, renowned for his ability to read ancient inscriptions, still enjoys good health and goes to work at the Royal Institute every weekday. He continues to travel upcountry and abroad and strolls a couple of kilometres a day for exercise.