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Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Proceeded to preside the Opening Ceremony of Sukhothai Historical Park |
The Origin of Sukhothai State
Sukhothai state became in an ascendant during the 19th and the 21st Buddhist Era surrounded with cities which were settled on lower basin of Yom, Ping, Nan and Moei River and upper basin of Pa Sak river. Those areas located in between the great and civilized empires as Pagan Kingdom in the west and Khmer Kingdom in the east.
The prehistoric evidences on stone inscriptions and archaeological places can be presumed that Sukhothai was a city state in the 18th B.E. with many people continually settled down there. Some archaeological evidences were found such as stone tools at Khao Khen, Khao Kha, Si Nakhon District, human skeletons at Ban Bung Ya, Khirimas District, and at Ban Wang Had, Dan Lanhoi District in Sukhothai Province. In the 12th B.E. The prehistoric communities are presumed having a settlement continually and developing to be towns later. Until the 12th B.E., Sukhothai had relations with other Dvaravati-based states located in the middle and the north east regions as some archaeological evidences found for example, beads, iron tools, bronze wares, silver coins with solar symbol and human skeletons with patterned baked clay at Chom Choen temple in the area of ancient Si Satchanalai.
Archaeological place of ancient Khmer called “Prang Puja” was found on a hill at Ban Nacheng, Khireemas District and presumed an evidence of continuous influence of ancient Khmer culture in this area during the 17th to 18th B.E. Another significant archaeological evidence is Ta Pha Daeng Shrine of ancient Sukhothai presumed to be in a contemporary Bayon art of Khmer culture. In the 18th B.E., a radical change of Khmer Kingdom occurred when King Chaivoraman VII turned to respect Mahayana doctrine of Buddhism and established it as a main religion of the Kingdom. This resulted in the change of installing Hindu worship images to be Buddha images and the adoption of Buddhism legend in architectures. The influences of Khmer art are also found in Thailand and assumed to be in the contemporary period, for example, Prang Sam Yod and Prang Wat Phra Si Mahathat at Lopburi Province and Prasart Wat Phra Pai Luang at ancient Sukhothai.
Sukhothai City
On the 2nd Stone Inscription found at Si Chum temple, the north east of Sukhothai, described the details of early period of Sukhothai that according to the death of Phokhun Si Nownumthom who governed Sukhothai, Khomsabud Khlon Lumpong came to possess Sukhothai. Phokhun Pha Muang, son of Phokhun Si Nownumthom then persuaded Phokhun Bangklangtaow,his companion, to contend to gain Sukhothai back. After the defeat, Phokhun Pha Muang in contrast entailed the city to Phokhun Bangklangtow together with a Phra Saeng Khanchaisi sword and a title of Phokhun Si Indrabodinthratid. Phokhun Si Indrabodindratid therefore, governed and became the primary monarch of Sukhothai dynasty.
On the 2nd Stone Inscription found at Si Chum temple, the north east of Sukhothai, described the details of early period of Sukhothai that according to the death of Phokhun Si Nownumthom who governed Sukhothai, Khomsabud Khlon Lumpong came to possess Sukhothai. Phokhun Pha Muang, son of Phokhun Si Nownumthom then persuaded Phokhun Bangklangtaow,his companion, to contend to gain Sukhothai back. After the defeat, Phokhun Pha Muang in contrast entailed the city to Phokhun Bangklangtow together with a Phra Saeng Khanchaisi sword and a title of Phokhun Si Indrabodinthratid. Phokhun Si Indrabodindratid therefore, governed and became the primary monarch of Sukhothai dynasty.
In the reign of Phokhun Ramkhamheng, he adopted Theravada Buddhism and disseminated to people in Sukhothai state. This resulted in the religious belief of people. The stone inscription described that he was pleased to have a listen to sermon on every Buddhist Holy Day. This practice was reflected his leadership’s image both in secular and religious side, for example, his ability as a warrior to protect and create well-being of people, peace and prosperous economic activity. A word on the stone inscription characterized his practice that “Governor did not collect tax and people could have any free trade” As the patronage of Buddhism, he was pleased to install the Buddha’s relics at the center of Si Satchanalai, a twin city of Sukhothai, and built many temples as well as Buddha’s images at Sukhothai. During the end of Buddhist Lent Day, he rode on an elephant to worship Buddha’s images and participated in Kathina Khandhaka ceremony at “Aranyik Area” (boundary between city and temple) of Saphan Hin temple. Phorkhun Ramkhamheng, therefore, has been a significant role model for the Thai kings afterwards due to the picture of security, strength and peace of state as well as his wisdom in inventing Thai alphabets to be a legacy of nation.
After the reign of Phorkhun Ramkhamheng, Sukhothai could not remain its prosperity any more according to the split up of cities under the state and their self-governing. In 1890 B.E., Phramaha Dhummarajalithai, Phokhun Ramkhumheng’s nephew who was governing Si Satchanalai, led his army to suppress the cities successfully and reunited Sukhothai sate again.
In the reign of Phramaha Dhummarajalithai, Sukhothai state was highly prosperous. According to his great patronage of Buddhism, he requested Phramaha Samee Patriarch from Nakhon Pun, a town in the south of Myanmar, to teach people during the Buddhist Lent at Pa Mamuang temple in the west of Sukhuthai. He himself also wrote a Buddhism literature entitled “Tri Bhumikatha” or “Tribhum Phralung” to educate his citizens.
Another exuberance coincided with the growth of Buddhism in this reign was an exquisiteness of arts and architectures which was distinctive reflected to a rise of technical and knowledge as a “Golden Age of Art and Architectures”, for example, a unique creation of Pang Leela style (or walking posture) of Buddha images and Bua Tum (lotus bud form) style of stupa. Phramaha Dhammarajalithai also adapted Buddhism to his governing and political approaches, for example, the installation of Buddha’s relics in many cities and gave opportunities people to engage and respect the relics, construction of Bua Tum stupas as a sign of relationship between politics and religion, for example, at Borommathat Nakhonchum temple, Kampang Peth Province, Suan Dok temple in Chiang Mai Province, Yodthong temple in Pitsanulok Province.
The Decline of Sukhothai State
In the middle of 19th B.E., two uprising kingdoms in the north of Sukhothai were more powerful. They were Lan Na Kingdom (with its center in Chiang Mai) tried to extend it territories to Tak city (which once belonged to Sukhothai) and Ayuthaya Kingdom in the south of Sukhothai (established in 1893 B.E. and occupied all of towns located on Chao Phraya Basin). Then kings of Sukhothai state at that moment stayed at risk situation. King Rama the first or Phrachao Uthong of Krung Si Ayuthaya once moved his troops to attack Song Kwae city (Pissanulok) and Phramaha Dhummarajalithai had to present a tribute for exchanging the city back. For this reason, he appointed his sister to govern Sukhothai and he left Sukhothai to stay at the other city. Inevitable consequence, Sukhothai’s throne and righteous majesty of governing was completely destroyed.
It is evident that after the death of Somdej Ramathipbodi the first, of Ayuthaya state, Prammaha Dhammarajalithai tried to revive the central status of Sukhothai state again. He travelled back to Sukhothai with his loyal troops came from governing towns. However, he could not perform his political roles longer due to his sudden death around the year 1913-1914 B.E., in the reign of Somdej Phraboromrajathiraj the first or Khun Lung Phra Ngao of Ayuthaya state (who sent a troop to arrogate Sukhothai state and other cities).
During a half century of Sukhothai’s history, Sukhothai state was cited to the roles of kings in Suphanbhumi dynasty governing Ayuthaya and Suphanburi. Those kings tried to govern Sukhothai state through royal wedding between both monarchs, employing noblemen to intervene in and supporting forces to Sukhothai royal families. Consequently, Sukhothai became a part of Ayuthaya state in 1981 B.E. Somdej Phraboromrajathiraj the second or Somdej Chaosamphraya also sent his son born from his wife in Sukhothai dynasty to seat Pitsanulok city as a title of Phra Ramaesuan or Maha Upparaja (viceroy) to govern the northern state and was directed by King of Si Ayuthaya state.
A Background of Historic Sukhothai Park
Department of Fine Arts had begun its exploration and registration of the archaeological ancient Sukhothai in the year 2478 B.E. (1935) and had announced the registration of 75 archaeological sites in the Government Gazette, 52nd volume, 75th part, on 8th March 2478.
In 2496 B.E. (1980), the Thai government had appointed a committee of Restoration Sukhothai and begun to excavate an area of Mahathat temple in the first place. The committee later proceeded its second phase of operations during 2508-2512 B.E. (1965-1969). In the year 2518 B.E. (1975) Fine Arts Department specified an area of 70 square kilometers (4,300 Rai) to be an archaeological site of Sukhothai and proposed an official announcement on the Government Gazette, 92nd volume, 112th part on 17th June 2518 B.E. (1975).
In 2518 B.E., the Fine Arts Department specified the areas of 43,750 Rai (70 square kilometers) to be the ancient site of Sukhothai in the Government Gazette, 92nd volume, 112th part, on 17th November 2518.
Fine Arts Department also initiated a Master Plan of Ancient Sukhothai’s Development To Be A Historic Park in 2519 B.E. (1976) for exploration, excavation and restoration of Sukhothai. The Master Plan was accordance with the 4th and the 5th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2520-2524 B.E.) (1977-1981) and (2525-2529 B.E.) (1982-1986) under the project entitled “A Project of Historic Sukhothai Park” and operational plans of nurture, preservation and restoration our cultural heritage. The project aimed to preserve archaeological places of ancient Sukhothai to sustain as historic and cultural evidences of nation and develop them for social and economic benefit. The Office of National Economic and Social Development finally proposed the cabinet for approval and giving an assignment to Department of Fine Arts for developing ancient Sukhothai to be “Historic Sukhothai Park”.
The Opening of Historic Sukhothai Park
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX was pleased Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn representing him at the Opening Ceremony of Historic Sukhothai Park on 20th November 2531 B.E. (1988). Since then the Historic Sukhothai Park has implemented its plan to sustain and conserve our cultural heritage and historical evidences of nation. The Thai government and Thai people nationwide at that time enjoyed celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the King’s Birthday and the 60th Mark of Coronation Anniversary of his Majesty the King as well.
Sukhothai As A World Heritage
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee on the World Heritage Convention announced in the meeting of 12th December 2534 B.E. ( 1991) at Carthage city, Tunesia that Historic Sukhothai Park including Si Satchanalai and Khampangpethch to be a world heritage as recorded in the 574th listing.
The archaeological evidences existing at ancient Sukhothai and satellite towns, exquisite architectural works in the early era of Thai culture, magnificent and elegant fine arts and architecture of Sukhothai kingdom have been represented our local wisdom and long history of the country establishment.
To date, 217 archaeological sites are explored, excavated and conducted research as follows:
- 66 historic sites in the areas of rampart of ancient Sukhothai
- 30 historic sites in the northern external areas of rampart
- 39 historic sites in the southern external areas of rampart
- 24 historic sites in the eastern external areas of rampart
- 58 historic sites in the western external areas of rampart
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