Roof and gable of the main viharn of Wat Phra Singh in Chang Mai
This article on
Thai Temple Art and Architecture discusses
Buddhist temples in Thailand.
Introduction
A typical
Wat Thai (loosely translated as
monastery or
temple) has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world.
Wat architecture in Thailand
right|thumb|The kamphaeng kaew (crystal wall) surrounding the ubosoth at Wat Ratchabopit in BangkokThe
architecture of a Wat has seen many changes in Thailand in the course of history. Although there are many differences in lay-out and style, they all adhere to the same principals.
A Thai temple, with few exceptions, consists of two parts: The
Phuttha-wat and the
Sangha-wat.
The Phutthawat
The Phutthawat () is the area which is dedicated to Buddha. It generally contains several buildings:
- Chedi (Thai: ) - also known as a stupa it is mostly seen in the form of a bell-shaped tower, often accessible and covered with gold leaf, containing a relic chamber.
- Ubosoth or Bot (Thai: or ) - the Ordination Hall and most sacred area of a Wat. Eight Sema stones (Bai Sema, Thai: ) mark the consecrated area.
- Viharn (Thai: ) - in Thai temples this designates a shrine hall that contains the principal Buddha images; it is the assembly hall where monks and believers congregate.
- Hor Trai (Thai: ) - the Temple Library or Scriptures Depository houses the sacred Tipiṭaka scriptures. Sometimes they are built in the form of a Mondop (Thai: ), a cubical-shaped building where the pyramidal roof is carried by columns.
- Sala (Thai: ) - an open pavilion providing shade and a place to rest.
- Sala Kan Prian (Thai: ) - a large, open hall where lay people can hear sermons or receive religious education. It literally means "Hall, in which monks study for their Prian exam" and is used for saying afternoon prayers.
- Hor Rakang (Thai: ) - the bell tower is used for waking the monks and to announce the morning and evening ceremonies.
- Phra Rabieng (Thai: ) - a peristyle is sometimes built around the sacred inner area as a cloister.
- Additional buildings can also be found inside the Phuttawat area, depending on local needs, such as a crematorium or a school.
The buildings are often adorned with elements such as
chofahs.
In temples of the
Rattanakosin era, such as
Wat Pho and
Wat Ratchabopit, the ubosoth can be contained within a (low) inner wall called a
Kamphaeng Kaew (Thai: ), which translated to 'Crystal Wall'.
The Sanghawat
The Sanghawat (Thai: ) contains the living quarters of the monks. It also lies within the wall surrounding the whole temple compound. The sanghawat area can have the following buildings:
- Kuti (Thai: ) - originally a small structure, built on stilts, designed to house a monk, with its proper size defined in the Sanghathisep, Rule 6, to be 12 by 7 Keub (4.013 by 2.343 meters). Modern kutis take on the shape of an apartment building with small rooms for the monks.
- The sanghawat can also contain the 'Hor Rakang' (bell tower) and even the 'Sala Kan Prian' (sermon hall).
- It will house most of the functional buildings such as a kitchen building where food can be prepared by lay people, and sanitary buildings.
Popular Temple Icons
During the 10th century, Thai
Theravada Buddhism and
Hindu cultures merged, and Hindu elements were introduced into Thai iconography. Popular figures include the four-armed figure of
Vishnu; the
garuda (half man, half bird); the eight-armed
Shiva; elephant-headed
Ganesh; the
nāga, which appears as a snake, dragon or cobra; and the ghost-banishing giant
Yaksha.
See also
right|thumb|250px|Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai Historical ParkDepictions of the Buddha
Statues and ornamentation: deities, demons and mythical beings
Architectural elements
General
