Vietnamese Artisanal Art and Decoration of Stained Glass and Mirror of Church Sa Thong Temple, Mancha Khiri District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

          The purpose of this research is to study architectural and artistic styles and stained glass of Church Sa Thong Temple. Mancha Khiri District Khon Kaen Province. This research was using the qualitative methodology and collected data from knowledgeable, understandable and relevant groups such as community leaders or villager’s Religious leader for the key informants. The instruments of this research were field research surveys and the unstructured interview. The researcher presented the results of the analysis of the data according to the set objectives by composing and presenting with descriptive, analytical and illustration methods. The results of the study showed that Construction of Sa Thong Temple has been influenced by the construction of a group of Vietnamese technicians and introduction to the construction of architecture and art in the Vietnamese style, a brick-and-mortar construction and decorated with stained glass stucco pattern, around it is decorated with a round mirror from the powder puff and a square shaped mirror. There is only a certain point of decoration on the mirror making stained glass. Also, it is a mirror so it is not colored. Moreover, it was found that Buddhist ideas and beliefs reflecting the lives of the people in the community were used as a guideline for creating the patterns surrounding the Sa Thong Temple. As a result, Sa Thong Temple was awarded the Merit Award for the Conservation of Asian and Pacific Cultural Heritage from UNESCO.