The Architecture of the Srivijaya Style (8th-13th centuries AD) brings the spirit of Java in southern Thailand.
Srivijayan art which has been found in southern Thailand was inspired by the Srivijaya kingdom flourishing from around 8th to 13th centuries AD. It is believed that its capital might have been near the modern town of Palembang on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
This powerful kingdom at one time controlled Sumatra, Malaysia and the souther part of Thailand. The art of Srivijaya is, in the case of Thailand, that of the Malay Peninsula influenced by Javanese art. It represents the concept of Mahayana Buddhism and Brahmanism.
Unfortunately, only few monuments constructed during the Srivijaya Period have remained in southern Thailand. Worse than that, they are now in a badly dilapidated condition even though some of them have undergone some restorations before.
Nevertheless, some characteristics of the Cham art associated with the main influence of the prototype, that is, Javanese art, can still be seen. For example, while the vihara of Wat Kaeo (pictured above) in Surat Thani, seems to have the same plan as that at Kalasan in Central Java, the architectural decoration of the Wat Kaeo appears to be like that of some Cham art at Phan-rang in Vietnam dated around the 9th century AD.
That is to say, it is embellished with pilaster each with a median groove along its entire length as well as miniature arch motif at the pillar bases.
Wat Phra Borommathat (pictured right), Chaiya in Surat Thani, should be mentioned as another notable example of Srivijayan architecture as it possessed some feature that remind us of the candi in Indoneisa.
It is a square structure with four small porched and a tiered superstructure crowned with stupikas or small chedis. This brick shrine was largely restored in 1901, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Rattanakosin Period.
from January 07, 2023 at 07:50PM Jeong Moon Tae