ABSTRACT
According to the Buddhist “doctrine of disappearance” that prophesies the decline of the religion, when the end comes, enlightenment will no longer be attainable, monks will not be able to keep their vows, and all books of the canon and the relics of the Buddha will disappear. 1 Monks in Northern Thailand during the fifteenth century were acutely aware that the end of the Buddha's Dharma (teachings) was approaching, and to prevent the prophecy from becoming truth, they, along with their patrons, made copies of Buddhist texts, and wrote narratives and commentaries extolling the faith. They also built temples, carved statues, and painted murals that facilitated worship. In other words, the fifteenth century was an artistic and literary golden age that was born out of a fear of Buddhism's death. Among one of the most persuasive narratives and sacred icons to come from this period is that of the Emerald Buddha. This chapter will examine the history and artistry of the Emerald Buddha statue (Figure 6.9.1), focusing on how it helped to visualize an expanded Theravāda Buddhist universe for its worshippers and aided in the territorial expansion of the Lanna Kingdom during the reign of King Tilok (r. 1441–87).
