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Promotion
of
and
Challenges
to
the

Dharmaraja
Principle
in
Art
and
Culture

during
the
Reign
of
King
Prajadhipok.

Chatbongkoch Sriwattanasarn *

Abstract

Promotion of art and culture not only indicates artistic and
cultural continuity and change but also reflects the broader economic,

educational and political dynamics of the time in question.

During the Reign of King Prajadhipok (1925-1935), art and

culture was promoted by the royal court and government for the
purpose of promoting the idea of Dhamaraja in transition to

modernity. It also brought in turn attempts to challenge the actual
operation of the ideas.

By studying historical documents and forms of art and culture of
the reign in depth, it was found that the construction the Monument

of King Rama I and the Phrabuddha Yodpha Bridge, renovation of The
Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Suwarnadararam Temple in

Ayutthaya, construction of Chalermkrung Movie Theater including the
royal films & photographs and promotion of radio technology in the
country, were parts of the process to establish the solidarity of

Siamese royal court to undergird the monarchical institution’s image.
Simultaneously, however, challenges to the idea of Dharmaraja

appeared as newspaper editorials and commentaries on politics,
political cartoons and Lamtãd Karnmuang (political impromptu folk
songs). These contributed to the atmosphere conducive to the

overthrow of the Absolute Monarchy in 1932, and a year later in
1933.

* Academic, King Prajadhipok’s Institute