Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period
Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period
The property illustrates the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (7th-11th centuries CE). While sacred boundary markers for areas of Theravada Buddhist monastic practice vary in materials, extensive use of stones is found only in the Khorat Plateau region in Southeast Asia. Buddhism’s arrival in the 7th century led to an increase in the erection of Sīma stones throughout the region for over four centuries. The Phu Phrabat Mountain area preserves the largest corpus in the world of in situ Sīma stones from the Dvaravati period, testifying to the tradition that once prevailed in the region. The scale of Sīma stone erection and rock shelter modification has transformed the natural landscape into a religious centre, and rock paintings on surfaces of 47 rock shelters are the physical evidence of human occupation over two millennia.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Phu Phrabat, un témoignage de la tradition des pierres Sema de la période de Dvaravati
Ce bien est représentatif de la tradition des pierres Sema de la période de Dvaravati (VIIe-XIe siècles de notre ère). Alors que les bornes sacrées délimitant les lieux de pratique monastique du bouddhisme theravada varient en termes de matériaux, l’utilisation intensive de pierres ne se retrouve que dans la région du plateau de Khorat, en Asie du Sud-Est. L’arrivée du bouddhisme au VIIe siècle entraîna une augmentation de l’édification de pierres Sema dans toute la région pendant plus de quatre siècles. La région des monts de Phu Phrabat conserve le plus grand corpus au monde de pierres Sema in situ de la période de Dvaravati, témoignant de cette tradition qui prévalait autrefois dans la zone. Le grand nombre de pierres Sema érigées et la modification des abris sous roche ont transformé le paysage naturel en un centre religieux, et les peintures rupestres présentes sur les surfaces des quarante-sept abris-sous-roche sont la trace physique de l’occupation humaine pendant deux millénaires.
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
فو فرابات، شاهد على تقليد حجر السيما خلال فترة دفارافاتي
يُبرز الموقع التقاليد المرتبطة بحجارة السّيما، والتي تعود إلى فترة دافارافاتي الممتدة بين القرنين السابع والحادي عشر الميلادي. وعلى الرغم من تنوّع المواد المستخدمة في تشييد المعالم المقدسة التي ترسم حدود أماكن ممارسة الطقوس الرهبانية لمذهب التيرافادا البوذي، انحصر الاستخدام الواسع النطاق للحجارة فقط في منطقة هضبة كورات جنوب شرق آسيا، لكن أسفر وصول البوذية في القرن السابع عن ارتفاع وتيرة تشييد أحجار السّيما في كل ركن من أركان المنطقة على مدار أكثر من أربعة قرون. وتحافظ منطقة جبل فو فرابات على أكبر مجموعة على مستوى العالم من أحجار السّيما التي لا تزال في موقعها الأصلي وتعود إلى فترة دفارافاتي، وتقف هذا المجموعة شاهداً على التقليد الذي كان سائداً في المنطقة فيما مضى. أسفر حجم عمليات تشييد أحجار السّيما ومقدار التعديلات التي أدخلت على الملاجئ الصخرية عن تحويل المنظر الطبيعي إلى مركز ديني، وتُعتبر الرسوم الصخرية على سطوح 47 ملجأ صخرياً دليلاً ملموساً على استيطان البشر في المنطقة لمدة تفوق الألفي عام.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
普普拉巴特历史公园
普普拉巴特（Phu Phrabat）历史公园体现了陀罗钵地王国时期（公元7-11世纪）的界石（Sīma）传统。在不同地区的上座部佛教寺院，用来标识修行区域的界标材质各不相同，只有在东南亚的呵叻高原地区才发现大量使用界石的情况。在佛教于公元7世纪传入该地区后长达4个多世纪的时间里，树立界石的场所逐渐增多。普普拉巴特山区保存着世界上数量最多的原址陀罗钵地时期界石，证明了该地区曾盛行这一传统。大量树立的界石和对岩棚的广泛改造，使这一自然景观转变为宗教中心。47座岩棚表面的岩画则是逾2千年来人类居住的例证。
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Исторический парк Пху Пхра Бат
Этот объект иллюстрирует традицию возведения камней Сема времен империи Дваравати (VII–XI вв. н. э.). В то время как для обозначения священных границ территорий буддийской монашеской практики Тхеравады используются различные материалы, только в регионе плато Корат в Юго-Восточной Азии широко распространено использование камней. В течение более четырех столетий после появления буддизма в VII веке по всему региону стали чаще возводить камни Сема. В районе горы Пхупхрабат сохранился самый большой в мире комплекс камней Сема in situ времен империи Дваравати, который является отражением традиции, некогда господствовавшей в этом регионе. Природный ландшафт превратился в религиозный центр вследствие масштабов возведения камней Сема и сооружения скальных укрытий. Наскальные рисунки на 47 поверхностях этих укрытий являются вещественным свидетельством обитания человека в этих местах на протяжении двух тысячелетий.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Phu Phrabat, un testimonio de la tradición de las piedras Sema del periodo Dvaravati
El sitio ilustra la tradición de las piedras Sema del periodo Dvaravati (siglos VII a XI e. c.). Aunque los materiales utilizados como marcadores de los límites sagrados de las zonas de práctica monástica del budismo Theravada varían, el uso extensivo de piedra solo se encuentra en la región de la meseta de Khorat, en Asia Sudoriental. La llegada del budismo en el siglo VII provocó un aumento de la edificación con piedras Sema en toda la región durante más de cuatro siglos. La zona de la montaña de Phu Phrabat conserva el mayor conjunto del mundo de piedras Sema in situ del periodo Dvaravati, un testimonio de la tradición que, en su época, prevaleció en la región. La magnitud de piedras Sema y la modificación de las formaciones rocosas ha transformado el paisaje natural en un centro religioso, y las pinturas rupestres presentes en la superficie de 47 abrigos rocosos constituyen la prueba física de que el ser humano ocupó la zona durante más de dos milenios.
source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
The Phu Phrabat Historical Park is the best representative of the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (7th-11th century CE) in the world. In the global context, while boundary markers for sacred areas of Buddhist activities vary in materials, extensive use of stones is only found on the Khorat Plateau in Southeast Asia. The megalithic rock shelters at Phu Phrabat, which were shaped by the combined forces of glacier movement and differential erosion of the rock strata, were venerated by the prehistoric populations two millennia ago, as evidenced by the rock paintings covering the surfaces of forty-seven rock shelters depicting human figures, hand palms, animals, and geometric patterns. Following the arrival of Buddhism in the region in the 7th century, numerous Sīma stones were erected in the Khorat Plateau region, transforming the landscape of Phu Phrabat into a sacred Buddhist site used as a religious centre. Whilst the Sīma stone tradition has continued to the present day, most Sīma stones have been relocated and reused. However, the property area preserves the largest corpus in the world of in situ Sīma stones from the Dvaravati period, testifying to this tradition that once prevailed in the region.
Criterion (iii): Phu Phrabat preserves the largest corpus in the world of in situ Sīma stones from the Dvaravati period, with all the types of establishment patterns as prescribed in Buddhist scripture, and exhibits the majority of forms and artistic styles of this particular type of sacred boundary marker with a very clear evolutionary path. It is an exceptional testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period in a global context.
Criterion (v): The landscape of Phu Phrabat has been purposefully and extensively transformed by the erection of the Sīma stones over more than four centuries to fulfil Buddhist ceremonial functions, possibly linked to the forest monastic tradition. It is an outstanding example of land use that is representative of the Sīma stone tradition that once prevailed in the Khorat Plateau during the Dvaravati period.
Integrity
The property testifies to the major forms of Sīma stones and all the spatial arrangement patterns, illustrating the major evolutionary path of the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period. In the global context, the property is the most complete testimony to the Sīma stone tradition during the Dvaravati period. It is of adequate size, and all the attributes necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value are included within its boundaries. All the adverse impacts are under control.
Authenticity
The property preserves the largest corpus in the world of Sīma stones in their original locations, with their spatial arrangement patterns unchanged, and their physical forms and decorative art untouched, providing a truthful and credible source of information for understanding the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period in terms of form and design, materials, function, location, traditions, and spirit and feeling. Since it was converted into a Buddhist religious centre in the 7th century, the site has continued to be used as such.
Protection and management requirements
The property is protected by national and local legislation and governmental regulations, including the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums, B.E. 2504 (1961), with its Amended Act (No. 2), B.E. 2535 (1992), and the National Reserved Forest Act, B.E. 2507 (1964).
The property is managed by a collaborative mechanism, with the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture taking the lead role, joined by representatives of the Royal Forest Department, Udon Thani Province, Ban Phue District, Muang Pan Sub-district Administration Organisation, and Klang Yai Sub-district Municipality. Mechanisms for local community participation are implemented in the management system. The site management is guided by the Master Plan for Conservation and Development of the Phu Phrabat Historical Park 2022-2026, which was developed in collaboration with the local communities. A risk preparedness plan is in place and functioning. However, Heritage Impact Assessment mechanisms need to be incorporated into the management system. Tourism management is adequate, but the carrying capacity should be established to guide site management, and measures should be adopted to prevent the spirit of the site from being disturbed by tourism.
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