Lamphun Hariphunchai National Museum
Hariphunchai National Museum is in Lamphun Town near Wat Hariphunchai. Intayongyod Road Muang District Lamphun Province. [ 66 53 511 186 ] and is open Wednesday to Sunday excepting New Year Festival and Songran Festival from 9 am until 4 pm daily.As Lamphun is the ancient capital of the Mon Haripunchai Kingdom and then a significant Lan Na town of the Tai Yuan Lan Na Kingdom this is reflected in the subject matter of the exhibits.
The Hariphunchai Museum Exhibits
The exihibits are divided between those from the Haripunchai period and those of the subsequent Lan Na Kingdom. The ancient relics and artifacts displayed have been found locally. First there is on the ground floor the Stone Inscription Hall in which are displayed 26 stone inscriptions, 8 from the Mon period in Mon script and 18 in Tai Lan Na [ Khon Yuan ] script. On the first floor is the main exhibition Hall exhibiting artifacts which the Museum has classified into two groups, [1] Haripunchai Art and [2] Lan Na art
The Haripunchai Art Exhibits
These the museum classifies as those before 17 C B E and those between B E 1600 and B E. The first and earlier period group exhibit styles of art including Indian Pala style and the Northeastern Dvaravati sytles 1836. The later period evidence style characteristics such as thicker eye brows, upward ends of the eyes and looking down expressions. The pottery on display were containers for storing the ashes of the deceased or urns for holding water.
The Lan Na Art Exhibits
The Lan Na period artifacts are from the period 16 to 25 C BE and the Haripunchai Museum divides them into 4 sub groups which are,
[1] Artifacts which show what it calls the the search for self identity, leading to the emergence of Khmer influences, Haripunchai influences in style and Indian Pala influences.
[2] The second group illustrates the full maturity and style of Lan Na art where artisits with confidence incorporated styles from Sukhothai art and Ayutthaya art and blend them into the Lan Na style.
[3] The third group illustrates the works from Phayao and its absorbed styles from Lang Xang [ Laos ]. Here are sculptures and procelains from Kilns at Khalong, Tungtaohai, Pan and Sankhampaheang.
[4] The fourth group of exhibits are those local works made during the Rattanakosin art period. Here the artifacts are mainly gold or silver objects, animals, flowers, etc.