A Visual Study on Motifs and Patterns of Ahom’s Brick Monuments

Abstract

Assam is located in the North-eastern part of India; it is blessed with its rich and diverse culture and heritage. One of the most influential aspects of heritage is the reign of Ahoms in Assam for nearly 600 years (A.D. 1228–1826). Historically, Ahoms are from a group of Tai people and most historians mention that the descendants of Tai people are from Yunnan province. The Ahoms came to Assam by crossing the Patkai Hills on the northern- eastern border of Myanmar. They settled over the Brahmaputra valley and extended their kingdom over the upper and lower part of Assam. With the leadership of the first Ahom King Sukapha (A.D. 1228–1268), they set up their first capital in the Charaideu district of Assam. The initial phase of the Ahom dynasty was unstable as they were expanding the kingdom subjugating the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. By the 17th century, art and architecture flourished prosperously. Literature states that during the reign of Ahom King Rudra Singha (A.D. 1698-1714), the masonry architecture flourished.