Wat Si Rong Muang
| Wat Si Rong Muang | |
|---|---|
วัดศรีรองเมือง | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Theravada Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Sop Tui, Mueang Lampang district, Lampang province, Thailand |
| Country | Thailand |
 Interactive map of Wat Si Rong Muang | |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Buddhist temple |
| Style | Burmese and Shan |
| Established | 1904–1905 |
Wat Si Rong Muang (Thai: วัดศรีรองเมือง), also spelled Wat Si Rong Mueang, is a Buddhist temple in Lampang, Thailand. It is known for its wooden principal vihara built in a Burmese and Shan-influenced architectural style.
History
[edit]Wat Si Rong Muang was built in 1904, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), according to a Thai government cultural record. The temple was established during a period when Lampang was an important centre of the northern Thai teak trade. The same source identifies its builder as Phor Thao Chong Tak Intha (พ่อเฒ่าจองตะก่าอินต๊ะ), a wealthy Shan man involved in the teak trade.[1] Local accounts associate the temple with Burmese and Shan or Thai Yai people involved in the timber industry.[2][3]
A local account states that the temple was built as a place of spiritual refuge and to ask forgiveness from nature for the cutting of trees in the forest.[4]
The temple was formerly known as Wat Tha Khrao Noi Burma (วัดท่าคราวน้อยพม่า). It was also known as Wat Si Song Muang (วัดศรีสองเมือง), a name said to have been derived from the surname of the land donors. A local account states that a monastic residence known as Samnak Song Si Song Muang had existed on the site since 1891.[5]
Inscriptions at the temple record several dates associated with its construction and decoration. One inscription indicates that construction began around 1904 or 1905, while another records lacquer decoration dated to 1908. A further inscription is dated 1912.[2]
The temple originally contained a principal vihara and nine smaller viharns. The smaller buildings later deteriorated or disappeared, leaving the principal vihara as the main surviving historic structure.[3]
The Fine Arts Department registered the vihara as a historic site on 27 October 1981.[3]
Architecture
[edit]The principal vihara is a two-storey structure combining masonry and timber. The lower storey is built of brick and plaster, while the upper storey is constructed mainly of wood. Its architectural form combines Burmese and Shan or Thai Yai features.[2][6]
The roof consists of several diminishing tiers arranged over the building, with nine pointed finials. The gables and eaves are decorated with perforated wooden and metal ornament. The interior has carved wooden ceiling panels and large round wooden pillars decorated with lacquer work, gilding, and coloured glass.[3][7]
The pillars in front of the principal Buddha image contain decorative reliefs depicting figures, guardian beings, animals, and vegetal designs. The ceiling decoration includes floral patterns and animal motifs made with lacquer and coloured glass.[3]
The principal Buddha image is described in local cultural records as a Burmese-style image, while another Buddha image in the vihara is identified as being in the Lanna style.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "วัดศรีรองเมือง". Office of Knowledge Management and Development.
- 1 2 3 "วัดศรีรองเมือง" [Wat Si Rong Muang]. Cultural Mapping Thailand (in Thai).
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "พระวิหาร วัดศรีรองเมือง" [The vihara of Wat Si Rong Muang]. Ministry of Culture, Thailand (in Thai).
- ↑ "วัดศรีรองเมือง". Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Archived from the original on 2021-06-06. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
- ↑ "ไทยทัศนา : (34) จองพม่า-ไทใหญ่ วัดศรีรองเมือง ลำปาง". Voice TV.
- ↑ "วัดศรีรองเมือง" [Wat Si Rong Muang]. Suan Dusit University Repository (in Thai).
- ↑ "ท่องเที่ยวเชิงวัฒนธรรม วัดศรีรองเมือง จ.ลำปาง" [Cultural tourism at Wat Si Rong Muang, Lampang province]. Thailand.go.th. 11 May 2023.