Dvaravati

A Buddhist kingdom in present-day Thailand and an early Mon state, first mentioned in Chinese sources as T'o-lo-po-ti in the middle of the 7th century AD. Though few records have survived, its capital may have been at Nakhon Pathom and its territory must have comprised almost all present Thailand. There are architectural remains, terra-cotta modeling, stucco relief sculpture, and Buddhist statuary in bronze and stone. The kingdom came to an end when the Khmers incorporated the area in the empire of Angkor in the 11th century AD.

A Buddhist kingdom in presentday Thailand, first mentioned in Chinese sources as T’o-lo-po-ti in the middle of the 7th century; it is believed that the kingdom came into being as a result of the dismemberment of the far-flung empire of Funan. Its centre was probably in the Suphanburi area of southwestern central Thailand, but its territory must have comprised almost all present Thailand. The population of the kingdom seems to have been predominantly Mon. Apart from architectural remains, the art of Dvaravati consists mainly of a Buddhist statuary in bronze or stone. The kingdom came to an end when the Khmers under king Suryavarman I (1002-50) expanded into the Menam basin and incorporated the area in the empire of Angkor. See also Lavo.