Page 23 - รวมเล่มศาสนาในประเทศไทย ภาคภาษาอังกฤษ

Around the 11 century, Theravada Buddhism expanded from the central
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alluvial plain to the north in Hariphunchai, present-day Lamphun Province. From that pe-
riod onward, Buddhism settled permanently in ‘Lanna,’or the northern region, and became
a main center of Buddhism, especially when the Kingdom of Lanna was established during
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14 century AD. Buddhism influences came from several sources: Sukhothai, Mueang Phan
(Mon or Mon State) and Sri Lanka.
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It can be concluded that, from the 6 century peried onward, both Theravada and
Mahayana Buddhism were continually present in Thailand, especially the Theravada Buddhism
which had firmly established itself and remains the main religion of the country until today.
During Sukhothai period, the Lanka-Wongse sect was promoted by King Ramkhamhaeng
the Great, who invited the Supreme Patriarch and his disciples from Nakhon Si Thammarat
to Sukhothai. Later, the original ‘Lanka Wongse’ or ‘Raman-Wongse’ from Nakhon Phan of the
Mons, was introduced by two monks, Phra Anomadassi and Phra Sumana Thera. Later, when
Sukhothai was under the sovereignty of Ayutthaya, Phra Nyana Khamphi Thera brought the new
‘Lanka Wongse’ Buddhism from Sri Lanka to Ayutthaya and Phitsanulok.

1 Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun
2 Sukhothai Historical Park,
Sukhothai Province
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