Photo Gallery
Lak Muang City Pillar (unknown age)
Like most major towns in Lanna, Nan has a lak muang (city pillar) marking the heart of the city. Unfortunately, both the shelter surrounding the pillar and the adjacent Wat (Wat Ming Muang) are modern constructions of concrete with rococo-style reliefs. Michael Freeman, the noted scholar of southeast Asian art, describes this design as "stunningly bad taste".
Bibliography:
Image credits: All images copyright 2008 Timothy M. Ciccone. Photographed early March, 2008.
Aasen, Clarence. Architecture of Siam: A Cultural History Interpretation
Oxford University Press, 1998. Kuala Lumpur
Amranand, Ping & Warren, William. Art & Design of Northern Thailand: Lanna Style
Sirivatana Inerprint Public Co., 2000. Bangkok
Cummings, Joe. Lonely Planet: Thailand
Lonely Planet Publications, 1990. Singapore
Freeman, Michael. Lanna: Thailand's Northern Kingdom
River Books, 2001. Thailand
Lassus, Pongkwan (Sukwattana). Architectural Heritage in Thailand
Amarin Printing and Publishing, 2004. Bangkok
Matics, K. I. Introduction to the Thai Temple
White Lotus Co., 1992. Bangkok
Ringis, Rita. Thai Temples and Temple Murals
Oxford University Press, 1990. Kuala Lumpur
Sthapitanonda, Nithi & Mertens, Brian. Architecture of Thailand: A Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Forms
Thames and Hudson, 2005. Singapore
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