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| The Mon Kingdom of Lamphun [ Hariphunchai ] |
| When visiting Lamphun you
should realise that people have inhabited the area continuously since
300 B.C.E. Iron implements and unglazed pottery have been dated from
ancient burial sites. The first known inhabitants were the Lawa.In 750
at the request of a local hermit, a daughter of the Mon King of Lop
Buri [ in Central Thailand ] was invited to come to Lamphun to rule.
This she did and in doing so brought with her monks representing the
Theravada Buddhist sect. Subsequently her two chidren became rulers of
Lumphun and Khelang [ now Lampang ]. Lamphun has many Mon relics but
there are few in Lampang. There is virtually no recorded history until
1218. |
| The Next 400 Years of Haripunchai History |
Lop Buri was at times under attack by the Khmer and at times became a
vassal of the Khmer Empire. The Khmers also sought to expand North and
conquer Haripunchai. These stories are documented in the ancient
Chronicles.
A major war campaign took place between the Mon Kings 1010-1020. It
started with the Lamphun Kings invasion of Lop Buri, only to be
thwarted by the Khmer Kings occupation and conquest of Lop Buri on
arrival from Nakhon Si Thammarat in South Thailand [ then also part of
the Khmer Empire ].
In 1050 a cholera epidemic caused the Mon in Lamphun to live with
other Mon in South Central Burma. Ever since relations between the Mon
of both Nations have been good.
Relations between the Mon Rulers of Haripunchai [ Lumphun ] and Lop
Buri were at all times subjugated by Khmer influence over the Lop Buri
Mon.
Around the Town of Lamphun we can today see the moat fortifications of the then satellite
Wiangs [ fortified outposts ]. These are at Wiang Mano, Wiang Tho, Wiang Tha Kan and Wiang Kum Kan.
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| Mon Heritage in Lamphun Today |
| The Mon in the North, used an alphabet script as used in South India.
The Mon at Lop Buri were over time influenced to adopt Khmer script
forms. The Mon ruins are moats, walls and ancient Temple sights, the
better examples of which are around Lamphun. Mon art is best seen at
National Museums and decorating Mon Wats.
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| The Mon 12th C Building At Lamphun, Wat Ku Kut |
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