Thailand’s Sukothai Heritage

Nepali Times introduces history of Thailand through Buddhist architecture in an eight-part series.

The Sukhothai Kingdom was a post-classical Thai kingdom in Mainland Southeast Asia surrounding the ancient capital city of Sukhothai in present-day north-central Thailand.

It was founded by Si Inthrathit in 1238 and existed as an independent polity until 1438, when it fell under the influence of the neighboring Ayutthaya after the death of Borommapan (Maha Thammaracha IV).

Sukhothai was originally a trade center in Lavo-itself under the suzerainty of the Khmer Empire-when Central Thai people led by Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao, a local leader, revolted and gained their independence. Bang Klang Hao took the regnal name of Si Inthrathit and became the first monarch of the Phra Ruang dynasty.

Therefore, the art of Sukhothai was partially influenced by Khmer art before it rapidly developed its own stylistic features. The Sukhothai Period is considered as the period during which Thai art, especially the sculpture are, highly flourished.

It is generally regarded as one of the Thai historical period which produced the most beautiful Buddha images. Beside, the influence of Singhalese Teravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka and that of the Mon kingdom in lower Burma, which might have directly spread into Sukhothai or infiltrated there through Lamphun, beneficially helped to make the Sukhothai architectural art much more refined.

The religious architecture of the Sukhothai Period maybe divided into two types that are the structures of in the form of a stupa and the an ubosot, a wihan or vihara.

As for the Sukhothai stupas, they are classified by some scholars into three styles :

* The stupa in a circular plan of Singhalese origin has a square base surrounded by elephant figures. On top of this base is placed another base decorated with niches containing Buddha images, such as the main chedi at Wat Chang Rom in Sukhothai. The element influenced by Pala art that probably spread into the Sukhothai kingdom via Burma.

*The stupa with the top in the form of a lotus bud, which is usually called by Thai the ‘chedi song phum khao bin’ or lotus-bud-stupa, is typical Sukhothai characteristics.

This original Sukhothai stupa is composed of a rabbeted garbhagrha, the sanctum or the main body which is placed on a three-tiered pedestal. Above the main body is a final in the form of a lotus bud. Example are main stupa at Wat Phra Si Mahathat in Sukhothai. This kind of stupa was popularly built in other part of northern Thailand such as Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulik, Tak and Chiang Mai provinces.

*The stupa style believed to have derived from te Srivijayan stupa is characterised by two or three superimposed square pedestals, a square main body and a niche, in which is placed a standing Buddha image, on four sides.

On top of the garbhagrha is fixed a set of superimposed bell-shaped andas of reducing size and crowned by a final. Beside, the main body is also embellished with four stupikas, each fixed on the upper corner. These features are believe to have been related to the Srivijayan style.

Example are the four corner-stupas of the main stupa at Wat Phra Si Mahathat and Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo in Sukhothai.

Ubosot, Wihan or Ordination hall

Unfortunately, most of the remaining ubosot building of the Sukhothai Period are now in a badly ruinous state. The ubosot was usually built, in place f the stupa, as the principal structure of a monastery, in which is always housed a large Buddha image.