Travel Like the wind by Suchart Choolee
As we walk toward the classroom, some may wonder, “There are so many other classrooms—why not go elsewhere?” That question depends on each person’s thoughts and feelings. For me, the ideal place to study local arts, culture, and traditions—deeply woven with faith and belief—is within a religious sanctuary. It is there that we can truly understand the roots and essence of a community’s identity.
The religious site I wish to highlight is Wat Phra Mahathat in Ratchaburi Province. Though it is only a single temple, it speaks volumes about the artistic evolution through different historical periods. For instance, we can observe Dvaravati-style art, believed to have been influenced by Indian art during the reign of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty (269–307 BCE), who sent out nine missions to spread Buddhism. One of these missions, led by Monks Uttara and Sona—the eighth delegation—traveled to the land known as Suvarnabhumi.
The sanctuary I’d like to talk about is Wat Phra Mahathat, located in Ratchaburi Province. Though just a single temple, it reflects a diverse and layered history of artistic and cultural styles from different eras.
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Here, you can witness Dvaravati-style art, believed to have been influenced by Indian art during the reign of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty (269–307 BCE).
He sent nine missions to propagate Buddhism, one of which, led by monks Uttara and Sona, came to a land known as Suvarnabhumi.
One can also marvel at the once-mighty influence of King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer Empire. Around 800 years ago, he had the “Phra Chai Buddha Mahanak” (a statue depicting the Buddha under the Naga, subduing Mara) created and installed across major regional cities.These were surrounded by laterite walls, reflecting the Khmer belief in Mount Meru as the center of the universe.
During the Sukhothai and early Ayutthaya periods, roughly in the 14th–15th centuries CE (20th–21st Buddhist centuries), an Ayutthaya-style central prang (Khmer-style tower) was constructed atop the earlier structure, with three more smaller prangs added on the same base.
Around them were Buddha images positioned back to back, referred to as Phra Rattanamueang, or locally known as Phra Mongkol Buri.
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Later, during the reign of King Rama II, the town of Ratchaburi was relocated from the west to the east side of the Mae Klong River.Wat Mahathat was then abandoned and left without resident monks. However, in 2338 BE (1795 CE) during the reign of King Rama III, a monk named Phra Boonma, while on pilgrimage, came upon the serene ruins and saw it as a suitable place for meditation and spiritual practice. With support from local Buddhists, the site was cleaned and restored. Gradually, Wat Mahathat was recenter of religion as it remains today.
While the Lord Buddha taught that all things are impermanent—a truth we must accept—what better way to appreciate the enduring faith of past generations than through the preservation of their sacred legacies? As recorded in Volume 16 of the Thai Encyclopedia for Youth, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) once expressed:“Antiques, artworks, and ancient monuments are of immense value and essential for studying our history, art, and archaeology. They reflect the prosperity of the Thai nation from ancient times and deserve to be preserved permanently as a national treasure.
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Some have said that people today are buying up Thai antiques and exporting them abroad in large numbers. If in the future we must go abroad just to study or admire our own national heritage, it would be a truly sad and shameful thing.
Therefore, we must strive to gather and preserve these artifacts, and building proper museums for their safekeeping is the best course of action.”Indeed, amidst impermanence, it is memory, heritage, and faith that endure—guardians of the soul of a people.
Credit Video : Ch3Thailand
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