Cetiya

A Chedi ( Thai: เจดีย์, pronunciation: [ di ː ː t͡ɕe ] ) is part of a Wat, a Buddhist temple in Thailand. It corresponds to the stupa in the religious architecture of other Buddhist countries.

The word Chedi is the Thai adaption of the word Cetiya from the Pali, the language of the Buddha or Chaitya from Sanskrit. This word comes from the root ci " heap ", " in a certain order order ". It is thus not only a Cetiya, but also an altar or generally denote a place of worship. But it also has a secondary meaning of cit: " spiritual fix ", " remember ", " instruct ". Therefore, it can - as the word " monument " (Latin monere: remember) - not just a piece of architecture but also mean ( He ) reminder in the broadest sense.

Background

In the Kalinga Bodhi Jataka, the Buddha states that there are three different types of Cetiya, so memorials. All - as the Buddha said - can serve in his place as an object of worship:

History

Over the centuries, the relics of the Buddha were divided again and again, but their number is not multiplied in proportion as new Chedis emerged. This means that the majority of the chedi, as we see it today, only more copies of such are that may well have formerly contained relics.

The Thai Chedi represent an evolution of the Sinhalese dagoba, which in turn evolved from the Indian stupa. This becomes especially clear when one considers the Phra Chedi of Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Their form was more elegant and slender. The bell-shaped, upward tapering construction is sometimes accessible. The base is also provided with niches where Buddha statues are worshiped.

During the time of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, the construction of the chedi was further developed in the four cardinal directions shrines are grown, the carry small chedi itself again (see picture below). Through her later, as accurate as possible focus on the four cardinal directions as well as the appearing in dimension number symbolism younger buildings were simultaneously for geometric image of the Buddhist cosmology.

A temple complex may have several stupas, which are sometimes coated with gold leaf.

Pictures

Chedi in Sri Lankan style, Sukhothai

Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya

Chedi Phu Khao Thong ( later Ayutthaya style), Ayutthaya

180829
de