1. Student's full name:Soudaphone KHAMPHOUVONG
2. Gender:Female
3. Date of birth: 08/08/1987
4. Place of birth:Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
5. Decision number for student admission:Decision No. 3556/QD-XHNV dated November 30, 2022, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in the training process:According to Decision No. 6097/QD-XHNV on extending the study period of postgraduate students issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Training format: Full-time, Duration: December 1, 2024 to May 30, 2025.
7. Thesis title: “That Luang Pagoda and Stupa Relics (Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic)”.
8. Major:Archaeology; Code: 8229010.01
9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Nguyen Huu Manh, Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
10. Summary of the thesis resultsThe main results of the thesis include:
This thesis focuses on the historical context of the formation and development of the That Luang stupa, one of the important cultural symbols of Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Through the analysis of historical and archaeological documents, the thesis clarifies the construction process and the role of the That Luang stupa in different historical periods, especially during the Lan Xang kingdom period. It examines the role of the monument in the Buddhist religious life of the Lao people, while affirming the symbolic significance of That Luang as a national cultural heritage, closely linked to the Lao national identity.
An important part of this thesis is a detailed analysis of the architecture and art of the That Luang stupa:
- Describe and analyze the overall spatial layout of the monument, including the main tower, subsidiary towers, the temple courtyard area, and auxiliary structures.
- This study examines the unique architectural style of That Luang stupa, combining indigenous Lao architectural art with influences from regional cultures, particularly India and Khmer. Through the study of That Luang, the thesis provides additional documentation and new perspectives on cultural exchange and the development of Buddhist architecture in the region.
- Analyze the motifs, reliefs, and decorative patterns on the tower, thereby clarifying the symbolic meaning and aesthetic value of these artistic elements.
- The thesis conducted a comparative analysis of the That Luang stupa site with similar sites in the region, thereby providing scientific assessments of the role and position of the That Luang stupa site in the regional archaeological system:
Based on the research results, the thesis has put forward several specific proposals for preserving and promoting the value of the That Luang stupa. It proposes measures to preserve the architecture and art of the stupa, especially to prevent degradation due to the effects of time and the environment. It also suggests developing programs to promote the cultural and historical value of the site through cultural tourism activities, traditional festivals, and community education.
11. Practical applications:Regarding the thesis topic "THAT LUANG PAGODA (VIENTIANE, LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC)" by a Lao student studying in Hanoi, the student hopes that the results of this thesis will contribute to the understanding of the formation and structure of the That Luang Pagoda among Lao people abroad. Through this, it aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the Lao student community in Vietnam in general and Lao students in Hanoi in particular, contributing to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and Laos. At the same time, it aims to introduce the distinctive traditions of Laos to the world.
12. Future research directionsResearch on the Management of Cultural Heritage in Laos.
13. Published works related to the thesis:
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name:Soudaphone KHAMPHOUVONG
2. Sex:Female
3. Date of birth: 08/08/1987
4. Place of birth:Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
5. Admission decision number:No. 3556/QD-XHNV dated November 30, 2022, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in academic process:According to the Decision on the extension of study time for the master's student No. 6097/QD-XHNV issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
7. Official thesis title: “The That Luang Stupa Complex (Vientiane, Lao PDR)”
8. Major:Archeology; Code: 8229010.01
9. Supervisors:Dr. Nguyen Huu Manh, Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:The thesis focuses on studying the historical context of the formation and development of the That Luang stupa complex, one of the most important cultural symbols of Vientiane, Lao PDR. By analyzing historical and archaeological documents, the thesis clarifies the construction process and the role of the That Luang stupa in different historical periods, especially during the Lan Xang Kingdom. It emphasizes the importance of the site in the Buddhist religious life of the Lao people and affirms the symbolic significance of That Luang as a national cultural heritage closely linked to the identity of the Lao nation.
A significant part of the thesis is a detailed analysis of the architecture and art of the That Luang stupa:
- Describing and analyzing the overall spatial layout of the site, including the main stupa, auxiliary stupas, the courtyard, and other supporting structures.
- Researching the unique architectural style of the That Luang stupa, which combines indigenous Lao architectural art with influences from regional cultures, particularly Indian and Khmer. Through the study of That Luang, the thesis provides additional materials and perspectives on the cultural exchange and development of Buddhist architecture in the region.
- Analyzing the patterns, reliefs, and decorative motifs on the stupa to clarify the symbolic meanings and aesthetic values of these artistic elements.
- Comparing and contrasting the That Luang stupa with similar sites in the region, the thesis offers scientific evaluations of the role and position of the That Luang stupa within the regional archaeological system.
Based on the research results, the thesis proposes specific measures to preserve and promote the value of the That Luang stupa complex:
Proposing preservation measures for the architecture and art of the stupa, particularly addressing deterioration caused by time and environmental factors. Developing programs to promote the cultural and historical value of the site through cultural tourism activities, traditional festivals, and community education.
11. Practical applications:For the thesis “The That Luang Stupa Complex (Vientiane, Lao PDR)” by a Lao international student in Hanoi, the student hopes that the results of this thesis will contribute to understanding the formation and structure of the That Luang stupa among Lao people abroad. This, in turn, will enhance knowledge about the Lao student community in Vietnam in general and in Hanoi in particular, thereby strengthening the Vietnam–Laos relationship. Additionally, it introduces the unique traditional features of Laos to the world.
12. Further research directions:Research on the management of Lao cultural heritage.
13. Publications:
