Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (UNESCO/NHK)
Summary
TLDRSukhothai, a historic town 400 km north of Bangkok, is the birthplace of the first unified Thai state and Tera Vaada Buddhism. Founded in 1238, the Sukhothai Kingdom thrived under King Ram Kam Hang, who invented the Thai alphabet and promoted prosperity. The royal temple, Wat Maharat, features unique Buddha statues and a 17-meter tall Buddha for meditation. The town annually hosts the Loi Krathong festival, where lotus-shaped lanterns are floated down the river in honor of the Great King.
Takeaways
- 🏰 The historic town of Sukhothai is located 400 kilometers north of Bangkok and was the capital of the first unified Thai kingdom.
- 🌟 Sukhothai Kingdom was founded in 1238 and was strictly Buddhist, playing a significant role in the spread of Theravada Buddhism.
- 🏛 Wat Mahathat is the royal temple of Sukhothai, featuring ten-meter-high pillars and Buddha images, with unique carvings depicting Buddha's interaction with people.
- 🔥 The Buddha's ashes are believed to be stored at the central prang of Wat Mahathat, symbolizing the sacredness of the site.
- 📜 King Ramkhamhaeng, the third king of Sukhothai, invented the Thai alphabet and inscribed a stone monument detailing the kingdom's prosperity.
- 🌾 The Sukhothai Kingdom flourished under King Ramkhamhaeng's rule, with advancements in religion, agriculture, and economy.
- 🗿 A 17-meter high statue of Buddha, known as the 'Watching Buddha,' is a prominent feature at the end of a narrow corridor, designed to meet the gaze of visitors.
- 🛕 The Watcharot Temple houses the giant Buddha statue, with a rectangular window beside its head, allowing visitors to see the statue's profile.
- 🎉 Sukhothai hosts the Loi Krathong festival annually, where lotus-shaped lanterns are floated down the river in honor of King Ramkhamhaeng.
- 🌌 The festival's tradition of floating lanterns dates back 700 years, reflecting the enduring cultural practices of the region.
Q & A
What is the significance of the town of Sukhothai in Thai history?
-Sukhothai is significant as it was the site of Thailand's first unified state, the Sukhothai Kingdom, founded in 1238.
What is the religious orientation of the Sukhothai Kingdom?
-The Sukhothai Kingdom was strictly Buddhist.
What is the Royal Temple of Wat Mahathat known for?
-Wat Mahathat is known for its ten-meter high pillars aligned around an image of Buddha walking, and Buddha statues adorning the base of the central prang.
What is unique about the carvings at Wat Mahathat?
-The carvings depict Buddha descending from the heavens and coming into contact with ordinary people, a form that appears in no other Buddhist monument.
How many kings reigned during the Sukhothai dynasty?
-Six kings reigned during the 200-year Sukhothai dynasty.
Who was the third king of the Sukhothai Kingdom, and what is he known for?
-The third king was Ramkhamhaeng, known for inventing the Thai alphabet and ruling during the kingdom's heyday.
What does the stone monument inscribed in the Thai alphabet depict?
-The stone monument depicts how the country prospered religiously, agriculturally, and economically under King Ramkhamhaeng's rule.
What is the significance of the 17-meter high statue of Buddha at Wat Mahathat?
-The statue is designed in a way that its eyes meet the eyes of people standing below, creating a space for meditation and contemplation.
How is the statue of Buddha at Wat Mahathat viewed by visitors?
-Visitors can see the Buddha's face in profile as they proceed through a narrow passage, with a rectangular window carved into the wall beside the giant Buddha's head.
What is the Loi Krathong festival, and how is it celebrated in Sukhothai?
-The Loi Krathong festival is celebrated by floating lotus flower-shaped lanterns down the river to please the Great King Ramkhamhaeng, a tradition that dates back 700 years.
What is the legend associated with the giant Buddha's head at Wat Mahathat?
-Legend has it that King Ramkhamhaeng spoke to his people from a spot beside the giant Buddha's head, where a rectangular window has been carved into the wall.
Outlines
🏰 Sukhothai: The Birthplace of Thai Unification and Teravada Buddhism
The script introduces Sukhothai, a historic town located 400 kilometers north of Bangkok, as the birthplace of Thai unification and Teravada Buddhism. Established in 1238, the Sukhothai Kingdom was Thailand's first unified state with a strong Buddhist influence. The Royal Temple, Wat Mahathat, is highlighted with its ten-meter high pillars surrounding a Buddha statue, depicting scenes of Buddha descending from the heavens and interacting with the people. The temple is also known for its prang, a structure believed to house Buddha's ashes. The script mentions the six kings who reigned during the 200-year dynasty, with a particular focus on King Ramkhamhaeng, who invented the Thai alphabet and is credited with the kingdom's prosperity in religion, agriculture, and economy. A stone monument inscribed in Thai alphabet details the country's flourishing under his rule. The script also describes a 17-meter high Buddha statue at the end of a narrow corridor, designed to make eye contact with visitors, and a legend about the King addressing his people from this spot. The script concludes with a description of the annual Loi Krathong festival, where lotus-shaped lanterns are floated down the river in honor of King Ramkhamhaeng, a tradition that has continued for 700 years.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Tera vaada Buddhism
💡Sukhothai
💡Sukhothai Kingdom
💡Wat Mahathat
💡Buddha walking
💡King Ramkamhaeng
💡LOI Krathong festival
💡Great King Ramkamhaeng
💡Meditation space
💡Stone walls
Highlights
The origins of Tera Vaada Buddhism are discussed in relation to the historic town of Sukhothai.
Sukhothai is located 400 kilometers north of Bangkok.
The Sukhothai Kingdom, founded in 1238, was Thailand's first unified state.
The kingdom was strictly Buddhist, indicating a strong religious identity.
Wat Maharat is the royal temple and the largest in Sukhothai.
The temple features ten-meter-high pillars aligned around an image of Buddha walking.
Buddhas adorn the base of the central prank, where Buddha's ashes are said to have been stored.
Carvings depict Buddha descending from the heavens and interacting with ordinary people, a unique form in Buddhist monuments.
The Sukhothai dynasty lasted for 200 years and reached its peak under King Ram Kam Hang.
A stone monument inscribed in the Thai alphabet, invented by King Ram Kam Hang, details the kingdom's prosperity.
The country prospered religiously, agriculturally, and economically under King Ram Kam Hang's rule.
A 17-meter high statue of Buddha is a prominent feature at the end of a narrow corridor.
The space for meditation is surrounded by stone walls, creating a serene environment.
The Buddha statue's design ensures that its eyes meet the eyes of people standing below.
A rectangular window beside the Buddha's head allows visitors to see the statue's face in profile.
Legend has it that King Ram Kam Hang spoke to his people from this location.
Sukhothai hosts the Loi Krathong festival annually, where lotus-shaped lanterns are floated down the river.
The lanterns float across the water as a tribute to the Great King Ram Kam Hank, a tradition dating back 700 years.
Transcripts
the origins of tera vaada Buddhism the
historic town of sukhothai and
associated towns sukhothai is 400
kilometres north of Bangkok the
sukhothai Kingdom founded in 1238 was
Thailand's first unified state and was
strictly Buddhist
the royal temple of wat maharat is the
largest ten meter high pillars aligned
up around an image of buddha walking
buddhas adorn the base of the central
prank where the Buddha's ashes are said
to have been stored the carvings
depicted are descending from the heavens
and coming into contact with ordinary
people a form that appears in no other
Buddhist Monument six Kings reign during
the 200-year dynasty which enjoyed his
heyday under the reign of its third King
Ram kam hang a stone monument is
inscribed in thai alphabet which the
king himself invented it depicts how the
country prospered religiously
agriculturally and economically under
his rule a 17 metre high statue of
Buddha appears at the end of a narrow
corridor the space for meditation
surrounded by stone walls is the watch
retune the Buddha is designed in a way
that its eyes meet the eyes of the
people standing below a rectangular
window has been carved into the wall
beside the giant Buddha's head the walls
are three meters thick as visitors
proceeds through the narrow passage they
can see the statues face in profile
legend has it that the King spoke to his
people from here
Sukkot I host the LOI Krathong festival
each year lanterns in the shape of lotus
flowers are floated down the river to
please the Great King Ram kam Hank
they float slowly across the water just
as they did 700 years ago
تصفح المزيد من مقاطع الفيديو ذات الصلة
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)