The architecture and decoration of mosques in Thailand

This thesis focuses on architecture and decoration of mosques in Thailand, including their influencing factors. 50 significant mosques in Thailand from various periods had been taken as sample. The study areas were divided into four regions of Thailand, i.e. mosques in the Southern, Central, Northern as well as Northeastern Thailand. Finally, the information of the mosques in each part was summarized as the whole picture of the architecture and decoration of mosques in Thailand. The research discovered that the mosques in each part of Thailand has different architecture and decoration styles according to its own background of the Muslims in each region as well as its own local factors. The architectural development of mosques in Thailand can be divided into four periods, i.e. the 1st period (1786-1851), the 2nd period (1851-1931), the 3rd period (1931-1990) and the 4th period (1990-present). There are six factors influencing the patterns of architecture and decoration of the mosques in Thailand, i.e. the global and national events, the religious concepts, the local characteristics and factors in Thailand, the development in various aspects of Muslim communities, the contact with other communities, as well as the Thai Muslim's point of view toward their mosques. In Thailand, mosques can be called in six various terms; masyid, balae, surau, gudi, imambarah, qing zhen si and dera. There are three sizes of mosques in Thailand; small, medium and large sizes. Mosques in this country are generally located in Muslim quarter, easy access area, or area closed to the Muslim's working site. The basic elements of mosque in Thailand are fences or walls indicating mosque's boundary, ablution area, entrance gate, minaret, multipurpose area, prayer hall, side prayer area, mihrab and minbar. The decorations applied to the mosques in Thailand can be categorized into five groups, i.e. decoration groups of local art, Western art, Chinese art, Islamic art and the state coat of arms alike. Apart from mosque building, the mosques in Thailand have other worth-for-study parts in its area; e.g. fences or walls indicating mosque's boundary, piers, school buildings, multipurpose buildings, houses, cemeteries, graves, gravestones and the Rong Torabat's.