Dvaravati

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 04:04, 28 February 2006
NongBot (Talk | contribs)
robot Modifying: th
Next diff →

Current revision

The Dvaravati kingdom of the Mon people existed from the 6th to the 11th centuries, when it was conquered by the Khmer Empire. It was centred on the Chao Phraya River valley in modern-day Thailand, with Nakhon Pathom as the capital.

Image:MonWheel.JPG

The term Dvaravati was created by Thai art historians referring to the destinct style of Buddhist art of that time. The name is derived from coins which were inscribed in sanskrit with śrīdvāravaṯī. The sanskrit word Dvaravati means being a gateway to the port, thus it refers to a coastal city. (The Gulf of Thailand extended much farther north in the past, and legend tells that Nakhon Pathom was once on the seacoast.)

Little is known about the administration of the kingdom, or even whether it was technically a kingdom at all. It may simply have been a loose gathering of principalities rather than a centralised state. The main settlements appear to have been at Nakhon Pathom, U Thong and Khu Bua west of the Chao Phraya. Other towns like Lavo (modern-day Lopburi) or Si Thep were also clearly influenced by the Dvaravati culture, but probably were not part of the kingdom.

Dvaravati itself was heavily influenced by Indian culture, and played an important role in introducing Buddhism and particularly Buddhist art to the region.

[edit]