Topic of discussion: "Survey of Southeast Asian Arts and Culture"
Post no. 7
Have been lagging this post for a couple of weeks already due to the heavy assignments. So, the information that I remember might be filtered down and not going be so fresh anymore. Well, it's a good thing there's notes.
Anywho, I was taken by surprise when the talk I attended was conducted by the same speaker prior to the previous talk I went which cost me 5 bucks at TGV a week earlier. I wouldn't complain though, the information he plated up for us were different and new.
The main focus he was trying to point out in the talk was that throughout many years, the culture of southeast Asia has its own influences from different countries and developed their own 'outlook' from it.
He gave some architectural examples from Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. What I found interesting is that all these three countries used the concept that derived itself from Hinduism, for their buildings. The Hindu God lives in a sacred mountain, not heaven. That mountain is called the 'Kalasha', or Mountain Meru.
And on those buildings' walls', there were bas-relieves (gives a 3D effect) that tells stories about their kind and era. The picture below depicts their 'Aspara', a.k.a their Celestial Being; Angel. The three pointy things on her head represent the Mountain Meru. SER told us that all the ladies in that era walked around without bras and it was a norm then. Oh wow, couldn't have imagined if everyone was like that today.
The humans at that time were illiterate, therefore pictures are much more legible for them. However, this form of culture is interpreted into the Thai culture. They still do have that pointy thing as the hat but it would represent fire. It also works like how the Halo works for Jesus Christ and all the other saints in Christianity.
He told us 'Nang Yai' was their form of wayang kulit. The costumes were pretty creepy if you asked me. However, it still has a very rich culture to it which makes it interesting to watch. Then, he started to talk about Indonesia.
He talked about Borobudur, which looked like an ancient ruin-Buddhist-temple. Well, it kinda is. There are about 500 life sized Buddha statues there. And that's where he started on the ancient folklore which I found seriously interesting. He asked us why was Buddha's hair so curly. He then explained that they were actually snails that glided up Buddha's meditating head, to protect it from the scorching sun the devil has conjured. Hence, the picture below. I really see the resemblance of the snail's shell to the carving on the statue itself.
He also said that the same devil that cause the massive heat wave caused a flood. A dragon felt pity for Buddha and split it's head up into 7 heads to protect Buddha like an umbrella for the flood. Interesting? This are all folklore anyway.
One other interesting thing he mention about colour in Thailand was that the colour RED was to function as an invisibility cloak. Whatever that is painted red, should be imagined that it is not there. For example, the rowers in a Thai boat race would be wearing red uniforms to give the illusion that the Phoenix boat was gliding along the river by itself. Very interesting.
I do believe what he says due to the fact that he stayed and studied in Thailand for such a long time. Plus, he's a Professor. Seems legit enough.
Well, that's all I could remember! Till next time.
-Charissa Ong
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