| kamhaeng’s cordial relations with China | | | | Sukhothai and other towns within the kingdom were |
| secured hi snorthern borders and kept the fragmented | | | | administrative, religious, military and market centres. |
| but nonetheless power-full Khmer kingdoms perpetually | | | | The Sukhothai kingdom was loosely governed through |
| off-balance; Sukhothai’s role as a regional | | | | towns in a feudalistic system controlled by the king. |
| counter-force to the Khmers had full Chinese approval | | | | Nearby provincial towns were ruled directly from the |
| and the Thais’ friendly relations with China | | | | royal palace; those located farther away were ruled |
| undoubtedly inhibited ambitious Khmer commanders | | | | by appointed governors who enjoyed absolute power |
| from unleashing invasion forces into the Thai heartland. | | | | within their own territories. It was the assumed duty of |
| Ramkamhaeng twice visited the Chinese court and in | | | | these governors to raise armies to defend the |
| 1300 imported Chinese artisans to produce pottery and | | | | kingdom in time of war. Peripheral vassal states of |
| porcelain that was exported to neighbouring countries | | | | non-Thai subjects were generally ruled by their own |
| and is now internationally prized as Sawankaloke | | | | chieftains who swore allegiance to the distant Thai king |
| celadon and handpainted ceramics. Pottery kilns are still | | | | and received egitimization of their authority from him. |
| prominently visible among Sukhothai’s | | | | Until the late 19th century, as Thai power centres |
| magnificent ruins. | | | | moved ever southwards down the Menam Chao |
| Devoutly Buddhist, Ramkamhaeng invited Ceylonese | | | | Phya basin, this mode of administration remained in |
| monks to purify the Khmer-corrupted Theravada | | | | force throughout the realm. |
| Buddhism practiced in Sukhothai. As Theravada | | | | Ramkamhaeng ruled his ethnically diverse subjects - |
| Buddhism became the predominant Thai religion, | | | | Mons, Laotians, Malays, Burmese, Khmers and Chinese |
| numerous graceful temples were built to house the | | | | as well as Thais - wisely and justly. He enjoyed a |
| elegantly beautiful Sukhothai-style Buddha images that | | | | paternal relationship with his people, em-bodying the |
| today rank among the world’s greatest | | | | open accessibility and closeness between king and |
| expressions of Buddhist art. | | | | subjects that epitomises the ideal Thai monarch. |
| In the most far-reaching achievement of his reign, | | | | According to a contemporary stone inscription, anyone |
| Ramkamhaeng created the Thai alphabet in 1283 and | | | | with a grievance could strike a bell hung outside |
| in one stroke formed the tool for uniting scattered | | | | Ramkamhaeng’s palace and be granted a |
| tribes into a nation with an identity of its own. A | | | | royal audience. |
| distinguished scholar of Pali (the ecclesiastic language | | | | It is small wonder that modem Thais regard Sukhothai |
| of Theravada Buddhism) and neighbouring languages, | | | | as a place of enviable contentment. A 1292 stone |
| Ramkamhaeng based his alphabet on | | | | inscription evokes the peaceful, prosperous life its |
| already-established Mon and Khmer scripts. Once the | | | | inhabitants must have enjoyed : “This Sukhothai |
| Thai alphabet found common usage, nascent literary, | | | | is good. In the water there are fish. In the fields there is |
| religious, historical and educational forms took shape | | | | rice. The king does not levy a rate on his people...Who |
| and became vital aspects of a truly indigenous Thai | | | | wants to trade in elephants, trades. Who wants to |
| culture. With surprisingly few modifications, | | | | trade in horses, trades. Who wants to trade in gold |
| Ramkam-haeng’s alphabet remains in common | | | | and silver, trades. The faces of people shine |
| use today. | | | | bright.” |
| The capital flourished as a trading centre. Besides | | | | Ramkamhaeng’s successors were of lesser |
| pottery exports to Java, Sumatra, Pegu and the | | | | calibre and Sukhothai’s power gradually |
| Philippines, Sukho-thai developed commerce with Indian, | | | | declined. By the late 14th century it had become a |
| Chinese, Burmese, Ceylonese and Persian traders. Its | | | | vassal state of Ayutthaya, a young, dynamically |
| major products were rice, fruits and timber. While | | | | expanding kingdom some 400 kilometres further down |
| barter was the chief trading method, coinage came to | | | | the Chao Phya river valley. |
| assume increasing importance. | | | | |