Where was Ayutthaya from: Perspective through art evidence?

Abstract

                 In Ayutthaya Era, there were a number of art evidence in various forms because Ayutthaya was a big city with people commuting from several cultures. In early Ayutthaya Period, there were Prang Pagodas and Buddha Images in Khmer style, which was the foundation of people from Lopburi. Thus, there is a hypothesis that unless there is any historical documents to show where King U - thong was from, art evidence should be referred to in order to assume that he should have come from Lopburi.

                  Art evidence, especially pagodas and Buddha images, show that people in Ayutthaya came from various areas because Ayutthaya Kingdom had power and relationships with nearby kingdoms. For instances, Prang pagodas show that there were people from Lopburi; big monasteries at the center of the city were established by kings; pagodas with castle - like top finials and octagonal bell - shaped pagodas, most of which are in the eastern side of the city island and outskirt areas of the city, show the identities of Sukhothai people in Ayutthaya because Sukhothai Kingdom had been merged to Ayutthaya; and Lanna style bell - shaped pagodas and Buddha images reflect that there were Lanna people in Ayutthaya as well, which concurs with historical evidence from middle Ayutthaya period that show that some Lanna people were included in Ayutthaya.

                  In middle Ayutthaya Era, there were art styles that were original styles of Ayutthaya, i.e., Ayutthaya style bell - shaped pagoda and pagodas with reduced corners, as well as Ayutthaya style Buddha images such as Buddha images with costumes, which reflect the development of craftsmanship that create unique art works that reflect the integration of people from different cultures.