Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c44.21

c44.21

The Tai period of the building art in Siam began to make its appearance during the thirteenth century, when a Mongoloid race of that name, whose original habitat is believed to have been southern China, gradually overran the country eventually becoming the paramount power throughout almost the entire peninsula of Indo-China. Of the varied influences which had been finding their way into the country during the course of centuries, that from the Far East was now strengthened, and the subsequent art of Siam shows evidences of an attenuated but persistent current from this source. Further, owing to intermittent intercourse with the islands of Java and Ceylon, the buildings of the Tai period display to an extent the effects of both of these contacts. Out of this diverse amalgamation of architectural styles there is however one development of the building art which although on the one hand may have been indirectly inspired by Sinhalese conceptions, and on the other by those of Pagan, has a distinctive national character. All the examples of this phase of the Tai movement are in a ruined condition, being marked by colonnades of dismantled pillars, for they appear to have been not only inspiring structures when entire but to imply an original approach in the ritual of Buddha worship. Skilled in the fashioning of statues of the Great Teacher, notably in bronze and some of great size, the central feature of these temple complexes, for they resembled a group of connected structures rather than a co-ordinated scheme, was a colossal statue of the Buddha, screened by a high and massively built wall, not unlike a roodscreen, through which the sacred image could be viewed, and therefore worshipped, by means of a tall narrow lancet-shaped aperture. Leading up to this shrine, altar, and divinity combined, was a pillared hall, corresponding in its intentions to the Indian temple mandapa, while in the rear rose a tapering sanctuary tower or *pra-prang*. Other edifices utilized in the ritual are grouped around, but the foregoing are the main and central elements of the composition Such are the temples of Maha-Tat at Sawank'alok, and another having the same dedication at old Suk'-ot'-ai, where also is situated that of Cri Chum of a similar type, all found in the more northerly region of the country, while at Ayudhya towards the south, nearer Bangkok, is the temple of Cri Sarap'et (cir. 1490) This class of temple appears to have emerged during the earlier centuries of the Tai period, and in their architectural character as well as in their ritualistic aspect, they recall in some respects the planning and perceptions of the Sinhalese in their temple of Lankatilaka at Polonnaruwa. In the construction of most of these temples, brick, with a surfacing of stucco took the place of the more substantial laterite masonry introduced during the previous period by the Khmers, thus no doubt partly accounting for their dilapidation, to which also the climate has contributed its share.