A tradition of the royal Thai patronage of the Buddhist Sangha seems to have already existed in Sukhothai where extant inscriptions show evidences of the first influx of Theravāda Buddhism from Ceylon in the middle of 13th century. The Buddhist church which, since then, enjoyed monarchical support and protection could long remain "unblemished", continuing to attract popular belief toward "the field of merit" and thus contributing to the integration of Thai society.
 Sukhothai inscriptions also indicate a certain degree of hierarchical organization of the Sangha offices of which were filled by royal sanction, if not direct appointment. One will see here another example of ecclesiastical "autonomy" allowed to survive only within the cadre of lay government's control.

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 Burmese chronicles give up an information that the religion of Burma has been Theravada Buddhism since King Anawrahta conquered Thaton, capital of the Mon Kingdom, in 1057. This information does not, however, coincide with any description of the Burmese inscriptions written in Pagan, Pinya and Ava periods.
 According to these inscriptions, the religion of Burma in those days was, no doubt, Theravada Buddhism descended from Ceylon. The Burman as the buddhist in those days manufactured Buddha's images with gold and silver, copied the Pāli Canon, Tipitaka, built Pagodas and monasteries, and offered various dedications such as agricultural lands and human beings as the Pagoda slaves.
 In making such a religious offerings to Three Gems, the Lord Buddha, the Law and the Monk, donors expected to liberate from the fear of rebirth in Samsara, to attain Omniscience and to realize Nirvana. They prayed not only for themselves but also for others. This attitude of donors can be called Mahayanistic in theory. An inscription written in 1278 A. D. (pl. no. 289 of the Inscriptions of Burma compiled by U Pe Maung Tin and G. H. Luce) reveals the existence of the Sanskrit V yākarana as well as the Pali Canon. Lokanatha (Avalokitesvara), one of the Mahāyana Bodhisattva, was also worshipped by the Burman in those days. It is, therefore, evident that Mahayana sect of Buddhism had once been fairly powerful in Burma.

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 Two brackish clay beds of different age are found along the lower reaches of the Chao Phraya River of Thailand. The older one is from 2 to 6m above M. S. L. forming a terrace surface, with the outcrop area 100 to 150km inland from the Gulf of Thailand, and an equivalent bed is also to be found at a level 11m below M. S. L. near the gulf coast. This older clay bed is assumed to be of upper Pleistocene age. The younger one extends over a broad area facing the gulf and forms a very flat plain 2m above M. S. L. This is dated post-glacial by C₁₄ dating.

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