Architecture and Sculptures in the Ayutthaya Period
Most of the magnificent architecture and sculptures of the Ayutthaya period were crafted for worship and devoted to Buddhism. Their beauty represents beliefs and technical masteries that were accumulated over many generations; a collection adapted from a variety of arts to form its own unique style.
A prominent feature of the mid-Ayutthaya period is the bell-shaped chedi; such as, those found at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and many more. Ubosots (ordination halls) from this period were usually very large and often served as the main structure of a temple. During the late-Ayutthaya period, architecture began to show the influence of the Western and Persian styles, as demonstrated by the two-storey building of Wat Chao Ya and the “Kammalian” ruins of Wat Kudi Dao.
Buddha images were an extremely prevalent subject of the sculptures. In the mid- Ayutthaya period, many of these Buddha images were commonly crafted with few adornments. However, as time progressed into the late-Ayutthaya period, they were often given full or royal adornments. A classic example of this is the exquisitely crafted principal Buddha image inside the Ubosot at Wat Na Phra Men.
Architecture and Sculptures in the Ayutthaya Period
