Dai-La

Refers to the period of the eighth and ninth centuries named after the capital of the Chinese province of Annam at Dai-Lai. The style of the period is driven by the flowering of Buddhism that influenced the development of sculpture and architecture and by an infusion of Chinese and Cham styles. In sculpture, the period features images from the Buddhist pantheon and of Buddhist monks constructed in wood or stone, stone pillars, kinnara mythical figures, lokapala guardian figures displaying Indian and Chinese decorative influences, and bas-relief carvings depicting plants and figures reminiscent of cave sculptures of Yungang and Longmen in China. In architecture, the period features terracotta moldings on temples, stupas built in brick, and motifs on structures featuring stylized dragons, clouds, and plants.