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ETD Abstract Container

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Charming the Image of the Buddha: A Brief Look at the Relationship Between Birthdays and the Amulet Collecting Tradition in Thailand

Tran, Jade D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1261422416

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, History of Art.
Amulet collecting is an acknowledged phenomenon in contemporary Thai culture.The objects function as relics of Buddhist personages, as well as talismans, worn to promote health and good fortune. Because the marketplace is so vast, this study examines two particular types of amulets that recognize birthdays: so-called “birthday Buddha” amulets, that connect the wearer’s own birthday to specific days of the week associated with events in the Buddha Sakyamuni’s life; and commemorative medallions that honor a specific birthday of a Thai monk or king. Though both of these amulet types relate to birthdays, each functions differently for the wearer. While birthday Buddha amulets facilitate an intimate connection between the life of the Buddha Sakyamuni and the individual practitioner, the commemorative portrait type represents a shift from Buddhist image veneration to more material collecting concerns. This study constitutes a contribution to a more thorough investigation of the amulet tradition, particularly as the collectors’ community continues to expand.
Susan L. Huntington (Advisor)
John C. Huntington (Committee Member)
127 p.
Art History
Thailand; amulets; Buddhism; birthday

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tran, J. D. (2010). Charming the Image of the Buddha: A Brief Look at the Relationship Between Birthdays and the Amulet Collecting Tradition in Thailand [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1261422416

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tran, Jade. Charming the Image of the Buddha: A Brief Look at the Relationship Between Birthdays and the Amulet Collecting Tradition in Thailand. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1261422416.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tran, Jade. "Charming the Image of the Buddha: A Brief Look at the Relationship Between Birthdays and the Amulet Collecting Tradition in Thailand." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1261422416

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1261422416
408
© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.