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The establishment of the new kingdom of Ayutthaya
in the middle of the 14th century and the change of
the political center of Thai power from Sukhothai to
Ayutthaya marked the beginning of a new era of
great cultural prosperity. From the capital city of
Ayutthaya located at the confluence of three rivers
(the Chao Phraya, the Pasak, and the Lopburi) the
kingdom of Ayutthaya dominated Menam Basin for
over four centuries. However, it is clear that this
strategic geographical and economical site had been
settled by an ancient community, long before King
Ramathihodi I traditionally founded the city.
Ramathihodi I was a renowned warrior and
lawmaker. Under his leadership, and under his
immediate successors, the kingdom rapidly
expanded north towards Sukhothai and east
towards the Khmer capital of Angkor Wat, which
they managed to seize for a brief interval. Under
royal patronage, Buddhism flourished and Ayutthaya
became an important Buddhist center. The rulers of
this dynasty, like the rulers of the Sukhothai
Kingdom, patronized cultural and religious
intercourse between Sri Lanka and Thailand and
encouraged and supported the development and
propagation of Sihala Buddhism in Thailand.
Centuries of battles with the Burmese would
eventually culminate in the sacking and burning of
Ayutthaya in 1767, thus ending one of the most
prosperous and culturally influential periods in Thai
history.
In Buddhist art, bells are often found in tandem with
vajra lightning bolts. In the diminutive form, they
serve as ritualistic instruments. Bells are symbolic
of sound, the creative word, and the vibrations
generated by the repetition of a mantra. This large
bells would have once hung inside the confines of
an Ayutthaya temple. Considering the expense of
the bronze and the beauty of the artistry, we can
assume that the temple would have been as
impressive as the bell is. The echoing drone of this
bell would have once filled the temple, calling the
monks to meditate.
- (X.0230)
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