Dvaravati Culture Background

        The archeological evidences found in Thailand suggested that there were pre-historic establishment before the development of Dvaravati Culture. People in this area did not make records, but left tools and utensils, made of stone, bronze and iron to suggest a continuous development of their social lives. As establishment on the trading route between China and India, pre-historic community settled in the central basin of Thailand developed itself trough trade between groups of people in South-East Asia and the remote areas into Buddhist society by acceptance of Buddhism distributed from India. As a result, the creation of Buddhist sculpture and architecture had begun since 5" century A.D.

        As the archeological evidences found in Thailand and South-East Asia suggested, South-East Asia was one of important Indian cultural impact areas during 6h - 7th century A.D. The communities in the region were influenced by Indian civilization, such as religion, art and culture, multiple knowledge including linguistics and literature; as a symbol of the development that stepped into the historic period. The civilization of people in Thailand emerged as the same era of “Dvaravati Art and Culture".

Dvaravati through Ancient Texts and Inscriptions

         "Dvaravati" was first known during late 7th century A.D., in the journal of Hsuan Tsang, a Chinese Buddhist monk in Tang Dynasty period. He made a record while traveled trough a small country on the bank of Chittagong River, the north of Bangladesh, as following: In the east, there is a country called "To-Lo-Po-Ti” near “Shid-Li-SaTah-Loh" (Sri Ksetra), “Kiem-Lan-Kia" (Kamlanka), “I-shengNa-Pu-Lo” (Isanbura) and “Mo-Ha-Cham-Po” (Mahachampa).

        Later, 1-Tsing, a Chinese Buddhist monk, repeatedly mentioned the name of this kingdom during early 8h century A.D. as he took a sea route to the land called “To-Ho-Po-Ti”.

       At first, historians and archeologists researched the topics related to the ancient kingdoms in this region suggested the land was Dvaravati, which settled in the central part of Thailand. The historic buildings and numerous artifacts were later uncovered including silver coins with Pallava script in Sanskrit "Śrīdvāravatīśvarapunya" or "the merit practices of King Sri Dvaravati" at archeological sites in ancient cities of Nakhon Prathom, Ratchaburi, Lopburi, Singburi, Chainat and Suphanburi, etc., which was a sufficient evidence indicated that Dvaravati Kingdom had the center at Chao Phraya River basin.