Dvaravati Kingdom
The Dvaravati Kingdom (11th–16th centuries BE / 6th–11th centuries CE) is the name used to refer to an ancient kingdom in the lower Chao Phraya River basin. Influenced by Indian Brahmanical and religious culture, it was a large community network with Nakhon Pathom serving as its main center. The Chinese monk I-Ching (Yijing) and Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) recorded in their travelogue around 607 CE (1150 BE) that a vast kingdom existed between Sriksetra (in present-day Myanmar) and Isanapura (in present-day Cambodia) called To-lo-po-ti (Dvaravati). Archaeologists have discovered numerous ancient ruins and Buddha images crafted in the style of India’s Gupta Dynasty art (ca. 317–607 CE / 860–1150 BE) throughout Nakhon Pathom and towns along the Chao Phraya River basin, extending northeastward to Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram.
Prior to the 11th century BE, the land of Suvarnabhumi was held under the sphere of Isanapura by the Funan and Chenla kingdoms. Historical evidence shows that as Funan collapsed during the 11th century BE, a distinct group—differing from the Chenla people in religion and art—exerted its influence over the territories west of Chenla, spanning from Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi up north to Lamphun.
The accounts of the Chinese monk Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who traveled overland from China to India around 629–645 CE (1172–1188 BE), and the monk I-Ching, who later traveled to India by sea, referred to this major kingdom using its local Indianized name as "Lo-po-ti" or "To-lo-po-ti" (Dvaravati). It was situated between Sriksetra to the west and Isanapura to the east, corresponding to the central region of modern-day Thailand. Chronicles from the Han Dynasty noted that one could sail from Guangzhou to the Dvaravati Kingdom in five months. In its earliest phase—around 300 BE—the original Phra Pathommachedi was built, marking a period when the city held great power and served as the capital of the Dvaravati Kingdom (11th–16th centuries BE). Numerous grand religious monuments were erected, with structural remains still visible today at sites such as Wat Phra Prathon Chedi, Wat Phra Meru, Wat Phra Ngam, and Wat Don Yai Hom. These excavated sites display exquisite craftsmanship, yielding tin, silver, and gold women's jewelry, stucco figures, and various artifacts that evidence extensive trade relations with foreigners.
ខាងជិតខាងយើងគេតែមួយ ម៉ូត ឬក៏ សំលៀកបំពាក់បែបសម័យអង្គ ពួកវាឆ្កួតមើលឃើញតែមួយ style ហ្នឹង ចង់សួរដល់ពួកសៀមដែតើរ យើងប្រជាជនសៀម វានៅតែប្រើសំលៀកបំពាក់នៅ