Abstract

This investigation aims to examine local Thai-Lao cultural and religious identity through the Buddhist sculptures of Northeastern Thailand. Much of the Northeastern Thai region once belonged to the Lan Xang Kingdom and the people living there now have a mixed identity that is simultaneously Laotian and Thai. This manifests itself in the religious structures of the Northeast, which are notable for their adherence to national standards and their representation of local culture. This qualitative study examines the body of work created by Thai-Lao monk and Buddhist sculptor Uthaithong Chantakorn through document review, observation, and interviews. Results reveal the clear belief in ancestral spirits and Brahmanism that accompany more mainstream Buddhist doctrine and representations of the Jataka, and argue that subtle references to local folklore demonstrate a reaction to state attempts at ethnic cultural suppression through religious nationalism.