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Little is known about the Srivijaya Kingdom. But its art found in old
Srivijayan cities in Southern Thailand tells us much about its people.
This art reflects various infusions of style from India, Champa [
Vietnam ] and central Java. It might rather be a reference to all art
and architecture in South Thailand in the period 7th - 13th C. The
Kingdom was ruled by the Sailendra dynasty of Central Java, which also
ruled the Indonesian Archipelago, the Malay Peninsula and Southern
Thailand to the Isthmus of Kra.
Its capital in Thailand was the City of Chaiya [ then called Grahi ].
In Thailand sculpture and architectural relics confirm that Mahayana
Buddhism was predominate. The style reflects close resemblance to
Indo-Javanese art also showing influences from India [ Amaravati, Pala
and Gupta ].
Most Srivijaya architecture is on the east coastline from Surat Thani
Province south to Songkhla Province and comprises religious buildings
of Mahayana Buddhism.
Good examples are Phra Borom Mathat at Chaiya in Javanese style made of
brick and mortar [ 9th – 10th C ], Wat Kaew Pagoda at Chaiya, also of
Javanese form and Wat Long Pagoda. The original Wat Mahathat at Nakhon
Si Thammarat [ a Srivijayan city ] was subsequently encased by a larger
Sri Lanka styled building.
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