Three-headed dragon statue welcomes visitors at Suvarnabhumi airport gate
Although this museum is located in only one of the 76 provinces of the Kingdom of Thailand, Suphanburi province, the U Thong museum has contained in it a period of ancient history of this country in a condensed way. That is also the reason why the museum was awarded the title of National Museum. It is also very convenient for tourists, when from the capital Bangkok, they can drive nearly 100 km northwest to the museum, located right on the inter-provincial highway.
bronze plate engraved with early writings
The attraction of the museum is not only in its modernity but also in its rare artifacts, many of which were excavated right in the ground of U Thong. The highlight in the history of U Thong is that it was one of the most important cities of the Dvaravati Kingdom, the first Mon Kingdom established in Thailand, lasting from the 6th to the 13th century. U Thong is located in the middle of the central plain of Thailand, connecting the northeast with the southwest. Scientists have found here an earthen citadel surrounded by a moat with a length of about 1650 m and a width of about 700 m. There are up to 20 ancient Buddhist relics discovered inside and outside the ancient city of U Thong, which are also destinations for nostalgic tourists, to see a mossy brick tower or dig in the rubble for artifacts left from an old time.
Beads, jewelry beads made of precious stones, agate, glass.
Many artifacts found in U Thong have shown that this place was a major center of Buddhist propagation, as well as an important east-west trade bridge connecting the Persian Gulf in the Middle East, Europe, India with Southeast Asia, China. Ancient Chinese and Indian documents have mentioned many merchant ships docking at U Thong to trade spices, aromatic wood, copper, tin, etc.
The museum also displays many Roman coins produced in faraway Germany, Arab coins, Tang Dynasty (Chinese) coins as well as local coins of that time. These are very convincing evidence of long-distance trade and exchange. Many Buddha statues made of stone, terracotta and gold, reliefs, ceramic human and animal statues are displayed here. Each statue is accompanied by a certain story or legend. Many of the statues are quite vivid, such as the motif of a human leading a monkey, which is very popular. There are also meticulously carved Buddhist Dharma wheels displayed together with unique linga symbols, symbols of Hinduism. Some artifacts still bear the mark of gold-plating or ancient writings engraved on copper plates or on earthenware.
Beads, jewelry beads made of precious stones, agate, glass.
Another strength of U Thong Museum is that it preserves almost all artifacts from a prehistoric and early historical period, when people cultivated this fertile land. That was the Suvarnabhumi period, dating back to about 300 to 100 BC, also known as the Indo-Roman era. The name Suvarnabhumi means "Golden Land". During this period, U Thong was an important commercial center. Many artifacts from India, China and many Southeast Asian countries can be found here. In particular, the underground of U Thong also preserves typical artifacts of the Dong Son culture of northern Vietnam, the Dong Son bronze drum, as well as unique artifacts of the Sa Huynh culture of central Vietnam, the jade two-headed animal earring. These must have been the first mobile "ambassadors" of cultural exchange between ancient Vietnamese people who came to Thailand about 2,000 years ago. In addition, some artifacts present at U Thong also appeared in the ancient village of Lai Nghi, Quang Nam, belonging to the Sa Huynh culture such as the red gemstone tiger statue, proving that the cultural exchange between Thailand and Vietnam at that time was two-way, giving and receiving.
A corner of the exhibition space of the Le Dynasty Museum
Many precious and semi-precious stone jewelry such as beads and beads from eastern India were also found here during the exchange of goods with countries in the region, including Vietnam. The museum also displays seals made of precious stones and ivory. The Suvarnabhumi culture was the foundation for the development of Dvaravati culture right in this land of U Thong. Because of the respect for the heritage of the Suvarnabhumi era, the Thai people named this name for the new, modern international airport near Bangkok, parallel to Don Muang airport. There is also another place worth seeing in the museum, which is a stilt house with two gables decorated with buffalo heads, a thatched roof located in the middle of the museum yard, typical of tens of thousands of Thai stilt houses in this Kingdom.
Stone Buddha statue
Terracotta relief
Just a walk around the U Thong International Museum, visitors can answer basic questions about the history of this country of smiles: from the Suvarnabhumi period to the Dvaravati period, the Kingdom of Siam and present-day Thailand, there have been many changes, many blends of ethnic groups from many places with the indigenous people. Also through many visual artifacts, visitors can learn about the "Thai" quality through each historical period and each attractive artifact here.
Associate Professor, Dr. Trinh Sinh
