Wat Chiang Man

Wat Chiang Man ( Thai: วัด เชียง มั่น - about: Monastery of the fortified city, in engl language use also. Wat Chiang Mun ) is a Buddhist temple ( wat ) in the center of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Wat Chiang Man was built in 1297 as the first temple of Chiang Mai on the site, had pitched his camp at the King Mangrai to supervise the construction of his new capital.

The oldest building of the temple is the Chedi Chang Lom ( " elephant -based Chedi " ) on a two-story cubic substructure is the gold-plated tip in typical Lanna style. Around the base are fifteen life-sized elephant statues, of which the front half is seen. They seem to carry the building on their backs.

In the vicinity there is a lotus pond, a city built on a brick plinth wooden library (Hor Trai ) and a ubosot. Before ubosot a stone stele is erected, which can be dated to the year 1581. This stele represents the oldest evidence of the founding of Chiang Mai is: April 12, 1296 at 4 clock in the morning. On the stele is also noted that the ubosot of King Mangrai has been built, and Phya Saen Luang who restored it in 1571. The present building probably dates from the 19th century.

Prior to the Chedi are two viharn recent. These buildings have deep-reaching Season roofs, as is typical for buildings in Lanna temples. The larger viharn was renovated in the 1920s by the famous monk Kru Ba Srivichai. Prior to the main Buddha statue is a standing Buddha statue, which carries a begging bowl in his hands. On the base of this 176 cm high figure, the year is 1465 engraved, it is the oldest statue of the Lanna kingdom. It is also the first image in Thailand, where the Buddha is depicted with a begging bowl.

In smaller viharn in the north of the temple are two small but very valuable Buddha statues. The Phra Sila statue is shown in relief, border Buddha. It is about 30 cm high and to have been brought in the 8th century from Ceylon here. Phra Sila should also be able to bring rain. For this reason it is every year for Songkran, the center of the celebrations.

The second famous statue called Phra Setang Khamani is about 10 cm high and is made of white rock crystal. Therefore it is called Phra Kaeo Khao ( " statue in white crystal "). This statue was brought from Queen Chamadevi of Lopburi, when she ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Hariphunchai. The statue is said to have survived the pillaging of Lamphun by King Mangrai. It is believed since then that they can protect against disasters. King Mangrai then took them to Chiang Mai and put them in Wat Chiang Man on. The golden throne of the statue was donated in 1874 by a prince.

Both Phra Sila and Phra Setang Kamani provide for the residents of Chiang Mai is a sanctuary ( Palladium ), which protects the city. You are therefore in a latticed niche.

Impressions from the temple grounds

Ubosot

Viharn: behind the barred window in the middle is the Phra Sila statue