|
History and Culture in Sukhothai |
Written by Daniel Jowssey
Monday, 31 March 2008
|
Sukothai is one of Thailand's leading provinces as far as history and culture are concerned. The province's Ramkhamhaeng National Museum houses numerous displays and artefacts that testify to the area's rich past. Sukhothai's main attraction though is the Sukhothai Historical Park - a World Heritage site under the auspices of UNESCO. The site houses a variety of ancient temples and palaces. Further evidence of Sukothai's strong royal connections shows through at two sites - the Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat. Sukothai is an extremely important province as far as the history and culture of Thailand is concerned, a fact reflected by the volume of historical and cultural attractions. If you are in Thailand for any length of time, a visit to Sukothai would be well worth considering. Sukhothai is to modern Thailand what Rome is to Italy, or Athens to Greece, starting point, golden age, departed glory. It was the first independent Thai state. It gave its name to one of Thailands most fertile styles of Buddhist art, credited with introducing the walking Buddha to the world. Its has turned up in places as far flung as the Philippines. Its ruins constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site, placing it on par with the Acropolis and Angkor Wat. If we had no Sukhothai, Ayudhya, and Bangkok, said the present King of Thailand, Thailand itself would be devoid of meaning. The old city of Sukhothai is partially enclosed by walls forming a rectangle measuring 2 km by 1.6 km. In the centre of the rectangle is the main temple, Wat Phra That. As with many of Sukhothais temples, Phra That is remarkable not so much for its architecture, which is pocked and crumbling, but for the numerous and gigantic Buddha statues some up to 9 meters tall that sit, stand, or walk amidst the ruins. It is almost as if the creators had intended to contrast the eternal and superlative nature of the Buddha with the ephemerality and baseness of the material world. Si Satchanalai Traditional Gold is not only the ordinary style of goldencraft commonly being sold and purchased, but is the golden ornaments being renewable hand making by local hand weaving. Sukhothai used to export enormous numbers of its pottery products in old time. The sustaining production is still ready to serve the tourists who want both to purchase and to have snapshots on the kilns. Loi Krathong Festival Thailands loveliest festival is celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually mid November. It is particularly picturesque amid the ruins of Sukhothais Historical Park. The festival is believed to have originated in Sukhothai some 700 years ago. When one of the kings concubines fashioned a lantern from carved fruit, bearing a lighted candle and sent it floating away during one of the kings nightly river cruises. Under the full moon, people float small banana leaf boats bearing a flower, lighted incense, a lighted candle and a small coin to honour the water spirits and to float away the previous years sins. Come anytime of year if your looking for something different and dont forget to enjoy yourself, as this is a culture that has to be seen to be believed. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Find Thailand travel and more useful information about tour operators at this Thailand directory.
Find Thailand travel and more useful information about tour operators at this Thailand directory.
| Comments On This Article: |
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.
You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:
- You don't change the article in any way
- You include the entire article, including the "about the author" box
- All hyperlinks must remain intact, including email addresses, and the link to ArticleBlast.com at the bottom
- In doing so you agree to indemnify the article's author, and ArticleBlast.com and its directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities which arise out of its use
- It is also recommended that you provide a courtesy copy of your publication to the author of the article
