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Issue Name
:
Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Celebration Commemorative Stamps
Issue
Date :
1996-04-12
Perforation
:
13.52
Denomination
:
2 Baht, 6 Baht, 8 Baht, 9 Baht
Details :
Charming Ancient Chiangmai - the center of the Lanna Kingdom
The ancient Chiang Mai Province was established in 1296 A.D. during the reign of King Mengrai the Great. Formerly called "Noppaburi Srinakhonping Chiang Mai", it has long been the center of Lanna Thai Kingdom. Today Chiang Mai is the greatest province in Thailand 20,107.057 km2 and also is the second most important city of the country in terms of economy, politics, society and culture. Chiang Mai has maintained the uniqueness of the charming customs and traditions of the Lanna Thai area from past to present. Therefore, it is the tourism center of the North, widely famous and attractive among international and local tourists. A great deal of the country's income from tourism comes to Thailand via Chiang Mai. Some of the ancient remains and antiques are reflections of the unique development of Chiang Mai (the center of the Lanna Kingdom), in terms of history, arts, culture, traditionals, beliefs etc. are as follows:
Chiang Man Temple Pagoda (2 Baht Stamp)
Chaing Man Temple Pagoda is the religious construction that indicates the beginning of the creation of Chiang Mai 700 years ago. King Mengrai, the first king of the Mengrai Dynasty, who established Chiang Mai, ordered the construction of Chiang Man Temple as the first temple in Chiang Mai. It is said that the temple compound was King Mengrai's temporary dwelling during the creation of Chiang Mai. Upon completion of the city, the construction of the temple was begun and the pagoda was built over the royal bed chamber due to the belief that if the common people slept over the royal bed chamber, there would be occur queer disasters.
According to the ancient royal customs, once a new city was established, a religious construction would be built as the center of the people's spirits and as the most sacred and cherished place of the city, a place and a temple were to be constructed simultaneously with a prior initial plan for the use of land.
Although the Chiang Man Temple Pagoda, as it is now, is the result of a later renovation, it is also reflection of Lankan arts, resembling Suwanmalig Pagoda at Anurajabhura, Lanka's first ancient capital, in the pagoda is surrounded by elephant sculptures. However, the top of the pagoda belongs to Phukhamma arts as it is plated with Buddhist words inscribed in gold-leaf, the practice initiated by the King Dharmajedi of Phukhamma.
Angel Sculptures around Chet Yot Temple Stupa (6 Baht Stamp) Chet Yot Temple or Maha Bhotharam Temple was constructed following the order conferred by King Tilokaraja, the ninth King of the Mengrai Dynasty (1441-1487 A.D.), as part of the commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of Buddhism. The stupa was copied in style from one in Buddhagaya, India, ans was situated northwest of Chiang Mai city, which was considered the life of Chiang Mai, according to Maha Thaksa Scripture. It was also where the world's 8th revision of Buddhism took place in 1477 A.D. At that time, Chiang Mai was truely a significant center of both the secular and religious worlds.
The outer wall of the Chet Yot Stupa was decoratively surrounded by standing and sitting angel sculptures in the wai gesture, with the hand brought together at chest level in the Thai greeting style. The form of the sculptures, however, was influenced by the Chinese arts of the Nguan Dynasty (1260-1368 A.D.) and the Meng Dynasty (1368-1646 A.D.) as well as Sukhothai and Burmese art. All the art was skillfully blended by Lanna artists and became the arts of the King Tilokaraja's reign, considered the Golden Age of Lanna art. Each angel sculpture was uniquely dressed and decorated. Some Sit and wai, wearing crowns, neckleces, upper arm bangles, and delicate apparel.
Motif of Phan Tao Temple Edifice (8 Baht Stamp) Phan Tao Temple Edifice was formerly the palace of King Mahotaraprathed, the fifth Chiang Mai ruler (1847-1854 A.D.). In the reign of King Inthawit Chayanontha, the seventh Chiang Mai ruler (1873-1896 A.D.), the King gave the order to demolish the palace and to construct the edifice.
The distinctive feature of the palace is the beautifully sculptured motif above the entrance, similar to an arch of khong (a typical Thai niche) in style but without any khong. The feature was dominant after the liberation from Burma, and similar features were found at the Laikham Temple Edifice and the Phrasingha Maha Vihara Temple Principle Hall.
The motif of the Phan Tao Temple Edifice is a beautifully-designed triangular structure in the center of which is a peacock standing above a mom. The peacock is linked to the Burmese and Lanna beliefs and the mom is believed to be the vehicle of Pachchunna, the god who created rain. At both frames of the arch is monkey carrying two nagas each. The nagas' tails support the reproduction of the edifice. The base of the arch is an octagonal piece of wood crave in a basic Thai design. At the end of both poles are finials in the form of a lotus bud with a swan at each side.
The insignia of the Phan Tao Temple Edifie reflects the age in which the Chiang Mai ruler was at internal liberty.
Sattaphan (9 Baht Stamp) Sattaphan in the context of Lanna culture is the candle stick used to worship the biggest Buddha image in a temple. There are two types of such candlesticks. One looks like steps of very small stairs and hands up to 7-9 candles at different levels. The other comes in the form of an isosceles triangle and holds seven candles from the top to both ends of the base. The stair candlestick is found in the Thai Lue cultural area, for example in the provinces of Phrae and Nan. On the other hand, the triangle candlestick is found in Thai Yuan cultural area, for example Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun. The word Sattaphan actually has two meanings:
1. Buddhist philosophy or practice in Buddhism, for example Bojjhanga (the seven constituents of Enlightenment), Sadhamma (the true doctrine of the good), Suppurisadhamma (virtue of the righteous, or the seven qualities of a good man).
2. The seven mountains that surround Mount Phra Sumeru.
The Sattaphan reflects the Lanna people's belief systems, most of which are based on Buddhist and Bhraman ways.
Quantity of stamps: X,000,000 pieces Sheet Composition: 50 stamps per sheet
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