Mon Art In North Thailand [ Lan Na ]

• In the Mon controlled Thailand there was the Dvaravati Kingdom of the central Chao Phra Valley and to its north the Mon Kingdom of Haripunchai, the capital of which was the town Haripunchai [ now called Lamphun ]. Mon Haripunchai architecture is distinct in form and serves Buddhist functions.

The Better Paces To See Mon Hariphunchai Art Are:

• Wat Chamatewi in Lamphun
• The Chedi of Wat Phya in Nan
• Wat Chedi Ched Yot in Chiang Mai
• Wat Chedi Si Liem built in Wiang Kun Gam [ 1300 ]
• The Suwanan Chedi at Wat Phra That Haripunchai in Lamphun [ 9th C ], and
• The brick Chedi of Chiang Saen's Wat Pasuk [ 1295 ]

Mon Haripunchai Sculpture

• Mon Haripunchai sculpture was unique in style and has no images of Hindu deities unlike the art elsewhere in Thailand.
• This Buddhist art is in stone, terracotta, stucco and bronze. The facial features are distinctly stylized and the mode of dress is Indian, [ 9th – 10th C Pala-Sena style of north eastern India ]. The facial features include curly hair, well proportioned bodies, prominent eyes, incised moustaches and neck wrinkles typically not Thai as we understand today's ethnic features of the locals.
  
• The art style was influence by Pala in India.
• Good examples can be seen at the National museum at Lamphun, Wat Phra That Haripunchai and Wat Chamatewi [ both also at Lamphun ].