The art of Thailand

Neolithic cultures appeared in Southeast Asia millennia ago.

1st millennium B.C.E.–15th century C.E.

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Thai Buddhist monasteries
Thai Buddhist monasteries

A Thai Buddhist monastery combines elements of the solemn and the fun, allowing it to serve a wide range of spiritual, aesthetic, and social needs.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

Wat Phra Kaew stands as an important monument that reflects the best of Thai craftsmanship and artistry since the late 18th century.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand 
The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand 

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is a royal complex filled with impressive architecture, painted murals, and arguably the most important Buddhist icon in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha.

Ban Chiang, a prehistoric archaeological site 
Ban Chiang, a prehistoric archaeological site 

Ban Chiang, located in the northeastern Thai province of Udon Thani, is considered the most important prehistoric culture in Southeast Asia.

Sukhothai
Sukhothai

The great civilization which evolved in the Kingdom of Sukhothai absorbed numerous influences and ancient local traditions.

Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya

Founded c. 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai.

Sukhothai Walking Buddha
Sukhothai Walking Buddha

The creation of a walking Buddha image is a distinctive feature of Thai art in the 13th century.

The Emerald Buddha and pandemics
The Emerald Buddha and pandemics

In the 19th century, King Rama II turned to Thailand’s protective deity, the Emerald Buddha, to stop the spread of cholera.

Ban Chiang Clay Jar
Ban Chiang Clay Jar

This well-preserved example of patterned earthenware dates to Thailand’s earliest agricultural communities.

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