The Asian Conference on Asian Studies 2021: Official Conference Proceedings

Abstract

Naga, the guardian of Triratna, dominates the waters, and is an important cultural image of Thailand, as well as an auspicious symbol of ordinary life. There is a large and subtle Naga cultural heritage that includes folk literature and festivals in Thailand. Whether it is an old tradition or a new cultural creation, many cultural heritages using the Naga theme are combined with visual art, while spreading the images and beliefs of Naga through the Internet, including sculptures, murals, emoticons, animations, festivals, amulets, fabrics, exhibition artworks, and so forth. This article aims to use iconography to analyze Naga images in visual art in Thailand, and to explore the changes that Naga worship have undergone on the Internet. Research results show two important changes: (1) in terms of cultural context, the cultural meaning of Naga images has changed on the Internet, making it part of the cultural industry, which is different from previous religious connotations; and (2), in terms of the spread of Buddhism, the Internet has led to changes in the way the Buddhist doctrine is diffused, including different interpretations of Naga images, which is challenged by virtual worlds.