Buddhist Artistic Heritage of Dvaravati: Artistic and Cultural Expressions in the Ancient Era

Abstract

This article explores the meaning of the term "Dvaravati," derived from the Sanskrit word Dvaraka, meaning "gate" or "entrance," associated with the sacred city built by Lord Krishna in Gujarat. The term was adopted by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab to date ancient artifacts and monuments from the Gupta, Post-Gupta, and Pala-Sena art periods. The study also examines cultural exchanges in Southeast Asia during the 6th-9th Buddhist centuries, focusing on trade connections between communities along the Pasak and Loei River basins and foreign merchants. These interactions facilitated cultural exchanges through ancient trade routes, evidenced by artifacts such as beads, pottery, and Dvaravati-style stone boundary markers (bai sema), linking the region's artistic traditions. Scholars suggest that bai sema were not only religious boundary markers but also symbols of religious beliefs and acts of merit-making. These cultural interactions reveal the influence of Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhism, along with Brahmanical traditions, as reflected in the discovered artifacts. This cultural synthesis has played a crucial role in shaping the cultural identity and invaluable heritage that has been preserved to the present day.