Religious Architecture
Ayutthaya
(Mid 14th to late 18th Centuries)
Architecture from this period can best be divided into four distinct
sub-periods that span more than four centuries from 1350 to 1767.
The
first sub-period (1350 to 1488)
The second sub-period (1448 to 1629)
The third sub-period (1629 to 1732)
The fourth sub-period (1732 to 1767)
 Due
mainly to the sacking of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, there
are unfortunately only limited numbers of complete religious architectural
structures remaining from this particular era - and most of what
remains dates from the fourth sub-period or final Ayutthaya period.
Although there are still some other (less important) buildings of
typical wat complexes remaining, very few bots or wihans survived
- an exception being the bot and wihan at the magnificent Wat Na
Phra Men.
The
first Ayutthaya period was dominated by the prang. It is likely
to have been very much influenced by the prang style of Wat Phra
Sri Ratana Mahathat in Lopburi - though prangs at Ayutthaya tended
to be slightly taller.
The
influence from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was thought to be quite strong
throughout the second sub-period, as was the obvious influence of
Khmer architectural style during the third sub-period. A notable
surviving building from the second sub-period is the beautiful Sri
Lankan-style bell shaped chedi at Wat Phra Si Sanphet. During the
third period, the King sent architects to carefully study the characteristics
of Khmer architecture - and the prang once again became very popular
in Ayutthaya. Good examples are at Wat Watthanaram, the corn-on-the-cob
shaped prang at Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Chumphon at Bang Pa-In.
Most
of the temples throughout the era were very elaborate structures,
with particularly ornate chofas and door and window pediments being
common. Carved Buddha images were often featured in the niches of
the prang structures. The Chedi mostly had ringed spires tapering
to fine points.
For
more information on religious architecture in other regions see:
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