Day2NightIssue IV : One day in Sukhothai Historical Park

First Page: An image of Buddhain Wat Mahathat

Above: Inside area ofWat Mahathat

Right: A smile face imageof Buddha in WatMahathat

Above: A panorama viewfrom above the highest monasteryin Wat Mahathat

Sukhothai The Kingdom of Sukhothai was in north central Thailand. The kingdom existed from 1238 until 1438. The old capital is in ruind and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage historical park.

History Prior to the 13th century, Tai kingdoms had existed in the northern highlands including the Ngoenyang kingdom of the Tai Yuan People, and the Heokam kingdom of Tai Lue people. Sukhothai had been a trade center and part of Lavo, which was under the domination of the Khmer Empire. The migration of Tai people into the upper Chao Phraya valley was somewhat gradual.

Modern historians stated that the secession of Sukhothai from the Khmer empire began as early as 1180 during the reign of Pho Khun Sri Naw Namthom who was the ruler of Sukhothai and the peripheral city of Si Satchanalai (now a part of Sukhothai Province as Amphoe). Sukhothai had enjoyed a substantial autonomy until it was reconquered around 1180 by the Mon people of Lavo under Khomsabad Khlonlampong.

Two brothers, Pho Khun Bangklanghao and Pho Khun Phamueang took Sukhothai from Mon hands in 1239. Kun, before becoming a Thai feudal title, was a Tai title for a ruler of a fortified town and its surrounding villages, together called a mueang; in older usage prefixed by pho “father". Bangklanghao ruled Sukhothai as Sri Indraditya – and began the Phra Ruang Dynasty - he expanded his primordial kingdom to the bordering cities.

Sukhothai is from Sanskrit Sukha means happiness +Udaya means rise, emergence, meaning “dawn of happiness”

Copy and rewrite information from wikipedia

At the end of his reign in 1257, the Sukhothai kingdom covered the entire upper valley of the Chao Phraya River (then known simply as Menam, "Mother of Waters," the generic Thai name for rivers.)

Traditional Thai historians considered the foundation of the Sukhothai kingdom as the beginning of their nation because little was known about the kingdoms prior to Sukhothai. Modern historical studies demonstrate that Thai history began before Sukhothai. Yet the foundation of Sukhothai is still a celebrated event.

The monarchs of Sukhothai The first king of Sukhothai is Pho Khun Sri Indraditya (Pho Khun Bangklanghao), the birth of Phra Ruang Dynasty, reign from 1249 until 1279 (30 years). His 2 sons, Pho Khun Ban Mueang and Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng (Younger brother of Ban Muang), are next king of Sukhothai kingdom until 1298.

Pho Khun Ban Mueang and Pho Khun Ram Khamhaeng expanded the Sukhothai kingdom. To the south, Ramkamhaeng subjugated the kingdom of Supannabhum and Sri Thamnakorn (Tambralinga) and, through Tambralinga, adopted Theravady as state religion. Traditional history described the extension of Sukhothai in a great fashion and the accuracy of these claims is disputed. To the north, Ramkamhaeng put Phrae and Muang Sua (Luang Prabang) under tribute.

To the west, Ramkhamhaeng helped the Mons under Wareru (who is said to have eloped with Ramkamhaeng’s daughter) to free themselves from Pagan control and established a kingdom at Martaban (they later moved to Pegu). So, Thai historians considered the Kingdom of Martaban a Sukhothai tributary. However, in practice, such Sukhothai domination may not have extended that far.

With regard to culture, Ramkhamhaeng requested the monks from Sri Thamnakorn to propagate the Theravada religion in Sukhothai. In 1283, the Thai script was invented by Ramkamhaeng, formulating into the controversial Ramkamhaeng Stele discovered by Mongkut 600 years later.

It was also this time that the first relation with Yuan Dynasty was formulated and Sukhothai began sending trade missions to China. The well-known exported good of Sukhothai was the Sangkalok (Song Dynasty pottery) – the only period that Siam produced Chinese-styled ceramics and fell out of use by the 14th century.

The Sukhothai domination was, however, short. After the death of Ramkhamhaeng, the Sukhothai tributaries broke away. Meanwhile, Ayutthaya rose in strength, and finally in 1378 King Thammaracha ll had to submit to this new power. Replica of Silajaruek Pokhun Ramkhamhaeng. In 1378, the armies from Ayutthaya kingdom invaded and put Sukhothai under her tributary. Suffering the urban decline, Luethai moved the capital to Pitsanulok.

Above: An image of Buddhain Wat Mahathat, The attitude of subduing Mara

Pra Maha Chedi, the main pagoda of

Wat Mahathat

Lotus Blossom Stuba of Phrs Maha Chedi, the center of the ancient city of Sukhothai

Above: The walk way beside the highest monastery in Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat The largest temple in Sukhothai center, surrounded by a wall rectangular. There is extensive area and filled with Buddha pagoda that deteriorates over time, "Wat Mahathat" an important measure and measure invaluable of Sukhothai, since the latter is a state of the greatest in the region as time progressed to the present, the stupa is a place that confirm the rise of Buddhism and architecture in Sukhothai.

The temple was created during the Sri Indraditya. Inside, there are the Lord Church, sub-pagoda and main pagoda that surrounded by 8 sub-pagodas on the same laterite pagoda located in all 4 directions and pagoda Castle has been influenced by Lanna.

Chedi or stupa of Wat Mahathat is a lotus-shaped, which is a unique art form Sukhothai, but may not start when building measure up. Last model was expected to have the same chedi that located on the same base and in the middle of the four sides. Around the base of the pagoda has Chedi in another 8 directions the Lord is upon the pagoda style influences from Haripunjaya art over the pagoda in the center of the 4 tops are Sukhothai pagoda Castle. Stucco pattern was influenced by the Lanka art. Around the chedi is revealed in a manner stucco Anchalee and walk clockwise around the stupa.

Maha Chedi lore built into the core of the city may want to express it. CHARMS pagoda, which states that the Bible is the second heaven is at the top of Meru Mount, the center of the universe. Therefore, the building of

the Great Stupa is the core of the city, it means the center of the universe as well. There have many surrounding chedi as same as Satbripan Mounts those are the layers of Meru Mount. And the located in the center of the walled could mean the city is a replica of the universe.

The east side of main chedi of Wat Mahathat has large laterite monastery. A platform which has the largest bronze Buddha image in Thailand is Phra Sri Sakyamuni. Which was built in the year 1905 until Dlamini in Thailand during the reign of today have been moved to Wat Suthat in Bangkok. The north and south side of the stupa has Buddha Stupa stands on the facade called "the Attharot" measures approximately 18 feet high statue of Buddha flanked on either side of the chedi.

Sukhothai Historical Park is located opposite the National Museum. It’s away from the city to the west, about 12 kilometers from the place where the temple is located.

King Ramkhamhaeng Monument Area

Above: A detail signboard ofWat Sra Sri at the entrance

Right: The entrance bridge stand in a line with sub-pagoda and main pagoda of Wat Sra Sri

Left: Many pillars in the temple of Wat Sra Sri and Langka Chedi stays in back

Above: The attitude of persuading the relatives not to quarrel Buddha model in Wat Sra Sri Area

Above: The huge temple enshrines the attitude of subduing Mara Buddha Model.

Wat Sra Sri Wat Mahathat Temple is located in the north of Wat Mahathat. This is an important and beautiful archaeological site. Because it stays the center of the pond that call “Tra Pang Tra Kuan”. The measure consists of Bell-shaped Chedi, Cathedral and Church in the pond, Buddha statue in front of the huge temple of Buddha, a small Srivijaya Arts mixed Lanka pagoda located on the south side, 4 Arch Buddha in 4 directions, and the front has a small island is home to a small Buddhist temple. The temple is known as the spot with beautiful views. Bell-shaped chedi of Wat Sra Sri is the historical evidence shows Lanka's Buddhist from Sukhothai. Sometimes it called the Trglagka pagoda. Once a group of illegal excavators have found pagoda models (Containing bones) and a gold plate inscribed mentioned adults Thera, conducted for the large order containing bone relics of Phra Maha Thammaracha I. This so-called inscription of Wat Sra Sri. And pagodas model currently on display in the Sukhothai National Museum. The church in the middle of the pond, it is the Buddhist belief that use water in their meaning, the purity of the area is called “Nateesima” for the bound of the monks made their activities. Before 1978, There was a road cut through the middle of Wat Sra Sri, which destroyed the historic value and harm. The Fine Arts Department has updated its scenery for Historic Preservation by digging down to the street and build a road along the pool instead.

Wat Sri Chum Wat Sri Chum is the ruin in Sukhothai historical park, the ancient temple is located in the north-west outside the walls of the temple. This temple enshrines a statue of Buddha, which called “Phra Ajana". The Buddha is enshrined in Buddha's living quarters . It is celebrated as a holy and unique charm and invites tourists to visit and worship continuous.

"Wat Sri Chum" derived from the original, which means Pho (Bothi Tree). So “Si Chum” refers to the grove of the Bodhi tree but in the Chronicle of Ayutthaya, written in the late Ayutthaya period, do not understand the meaning of this place, so call it “Reusi Chum” (Hermit’s community).

Wat Si Chum is assumed in the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng by appearing in inscriptions Sukhothai 1 that "beneath the foot of the bed Sukhothai is ............... there may be a castle in the principal. The Buddha in it has called ‘Phra Ajana’."

Lord Buddha is 32 meters wide and 15 meters high with a wall thickness of 3 meters. Left wall is a ladder drill in the walls up to the roof. The walls of the tunnel has old paintings and almost completely blurred. This painting last almost 700 years. The wall plate has slate engraved lines is the allegory of a total of 50 consecutive images sorted array. All this can be considered a work of art that is the oldest Thailand.

Previous Page: Phra Ajana, Lord Buddha model in Wat Sri Chum

Above: A detail signboard ofWat Sri Chum at a bike park

Right: A tourist took a photo the Lord Buddha in Wat Sri Chum

Wat Phra Phai Luang Located outside the Sukhothai Historical Park. It was built around the 13th century marks the beginning of the historic city of Sukhothai.

Some of the artifacts and architecture is the khmer art of Jayavarman 7 originally created to be a place of worship. Later it have built more for a Buddhist.

Archaeological SitePhraprang (Pagoda) is the oldest archaeological site of this temple built at the beginning of Sukhothai by laterite for to be the President of

this temple. Now only one which is perfect. The pagoda was decorated with frescoes for Buddhist telling.

Aubosoth (the main hall) is located behind the pagoda in the Masonic temple. There are stairs up front on both sides, laterite pillars, and outside the hall toward the parapet embroidered around.

First: The pagoda and the main hall in Wat Phra Phai Luang

Second: Gable above the door adorned with frescoes stories in Buddhist history.

Third: The Statue of the Walking Buddha

Forth: The attitude of subduing Mara around the square pagoda

Phra Viharn (The monastery) is situated in front of the pagoda. It has 5 rooms but now it has only the laterite base and pole. Within the monastery has seat base and pedestal base.

Lord of four performances, standing, walking, sitting, lying posture , located behind the pagoda. But currently you can see only The Statue of the Walking Buddha

A detail signboard of Wat Mae Chon in Sukhothai Historical Park

A detail signboard of Wat Son Khao in Sukhothai Historical Park

Above: Sign name of Wat Sorasak in front of Chang Lom Chedi

Left: Chang Lom chedi inWat Sorasak

Elephants in the base of the pagoda

Wat Sorasak Located inside the Sukhothai Historical Park Near Ta Pha Daeng Shrine and Wat Son Khao built in Sukhothai, history and stories of the year 1412 were inscribed into the Stone Temple Organization (Inscription 49) was discovered near Wat Tra Phang So. The parapet is inscribed slate that is written in the year 1417, said Mr. Indra Sorasak asked for a royal land from Phraya Dlamini (Dlamini 3), the Sukhothai Lord for build a temple dedicated to his glory. When completed Phraya Dlamini has invited the respectable monk,his uncle, from District to the temple of the monastery.

Later Year 1416, Majesty King 2 (Chao Phraya) of Ayutthaya. When he was a young came with his mother and his aunt at Sukhothai. By his mother's sister having sat still at the Old Course Palace near Wat Sorasak.

Above: The island in a pond in front of Wat Tra Phang Ngoen

Left: The attitude of subduing Mara Buddha inside the temple

Lotus Blossom Stuba behind the temple, the famous stuba style in Sukhothai art

Wat Tra Phang Ngoen

The temple is located inside the Sukhothai Historical Park near the pool area is known Tra Phang Nqoen, since ancient times, that around Wat Mahathat. The remains include Pagoda pattern (Lotus-shaped) is located behind the temple. The monastery is a small 7-room made by brick and laterite pillars. Inside, The Buddha statue of Buddha was president. The main hall, located opposite the monastery, is on an island surrounded by the water of Tra Phang Ngoen pond which the purity of the monastery area such as Wat Mahathat.

The entrantce of Wat Sri Sawai

Left: Phra Prang of Wat Sri Sawai

Above: Garuda fierce snake goddess and stuccoabove Phra Prang

Next Page: Small gable placed in front of the main one arch entrance to the temple

Wat Sri Sawai Located inside the Sukhothai Historical Park. It is a measure of Khmer art, created during the century 13. It was a Brahmin temple that has Phra Prang Sam Yot was president. Living shaped petals adorned with stucco Garuda hold Goddess and flower pattern. Front of the church was the site of the temple. There is the cloister surrounding the church and the temple. Behind this site has a pond called “The pool for free from sin” that it was free from sin and sanctification by faith doctrine Brahman. Outside of Wat Sri Sawai surrounded by a laterite wall.

Once the survey has found carved lintels and stone Shiva Vishnu Vishnu Bantomsin's arm, and four pieces of Idol and Dick made of bronze that is now preserved at the National Library.

Above: The silhouette ofWat Mahathat in the evening of Sukhothai Historical Park