Ubosot
The Ubosot ( Thai : โบสถ์ , Phra Ubosot พระ อุโบสถ , also bot ) is the holiest building in a wat , a Buddhist temple complex in Thailand . The term comes from the word uphosathagara from the Pali language , mostly it is shortened to “bot”. Here the monks hold their important ceremonies, such as the monk ordination or the regular confession of all monks to the 227 rules of the order. This latter ceremony is performed twice a month, namely on the 15th day of the waning and on the 15th day of the waxing moon (see the Thai lunar calendar ). In Thailand it is called suat patimok ( สวด ปา ฏิ โมกข์ ), i.e. Patimokkha (see Vinayapitaka ), lay people are not permitted.
While this building is the most important in the temple precinct, it is not necessarily the largest. The only minimum size required is that there must be space for at least 21 monks. The only difference to other buildings within the temple complex are the eight marker stones, which are called Bai Sema . They are at the four corner points and (halfway between) the four cardinal points . The holy ceremonies of the monks can only be held within the demarcated area.
The bot is usually rectangular in shape with a long central nave and two side aisles. In addition, it can have a covered porch at the front and rear. The outer walls are made of either wood or brick and are whitewashed. A bot can have one, two, or even three doors on the east and west walls. The main entrance is usually opposite the Buddha statue . If the terrain permits, the bot faces east, the direction the Buddha looked when he attained enlightenment .
Pilasters support the multi-tiered roof on the sides, while the main weight is borne by columns that are barely noticeably tapered towards the top. Many bot in northern Thailand still have columns made from the trunks of dead straight teak trees. The staggered roof is covered with glazed ceramic tiles. In the rattanakosin style, orange-red tiles form a rectangle that is framed by green tiles. This type of roof covering dates back to the Sukhothai period (13th – 15th centuries AD). The close ties with the Chinese court at that time resulted from the introduction of some Chinese peculiarities, such as this ceramic roof tile . In the side walls there are windows at regular intervals, the frames and shutters of which are often decorated with ornate carvings or colorful mosaics.
The walls in the interior of the bot can easily be whitewashed or have great murals . In contrast to many Chinese temples, the interiors of Thai temple buildings are closed at the top with a ceiling that conceals the framework of the roof truss from the beholder's eye. The ceiling is often artistically painted with gold motifs on a red background.
literature
- KI Matics: Introduction To The Thai Templ e. White Lotus, Bangkok 1992, ISBN 974-8495-42-6
- No Na Paknam: The Buddhist Boundary Markers of Thailand . Muang Boran Press, Bangkok 1981 (Without ISBN)
- No Na Paknam: สี มาก ถา สมุด ข่อย วัด สุ ทัศน เทพ ว รา ราม - Manuscript of Sima of Wat Suthat Dhepvararam . Muang Boran Press, Bangkok 1997, ISBN 974-7367-82-3
- สมคิด จิ ระ ทัศน กุล: รูป แบบ พระ อุโบสถ และ พระวิหาร (Rup Baep Phra Ubosot Lae Phra Viharn) . เมือง โบ ราน (Mueang Boran Publishing), กรุงเทพ ๒๕๔๗, ISBN 974-7383-59-4