Wat Chedi Ngam

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The way to Wat Chedi Ngam
Assembly hall and chedi of Wat Chedi Ngam
Wat Chedi Ngam at dusk

Only the ruins of the Buddhist temple complex Wat Chedi Ngam ( Thai วัด เจดีย์ งาม - Monastery of the beautiful Chedi ) remain. It is located in Sukhothai Province Sukhothai in the northern region of Thailand .

location

Wat Chedi Ngam is part of the Sukhothai Historical Park , it is located in forested hills about 2.5 kilometers west of the O-City Gate ( ประตู อ้อ - Pratu O) outside the Old City (Mueang Kao - เมือง เก่า ) of Sukhothai.

General

The Theravada Buddhist monks ( bhikkhus ) of that time can be divided into two groups based on their way of life. One group preferred to study the Buddha's teachings , the Tipitaka . It was convenient for them to live in the monasteries within the city. That is why they were called “city monks” (Kamawasi, พระ สงฆ์ คามวาสี ). The other group preferred to practice mindfulness and meditate. They often lived in monasteries outside the cities in quiet forest areas ( Aran - อรัญ ญ์ ) and were therefore called "forest monks" ( Aranyawasi - พระ สงฆ์ อรัญ ญ วาสี ). They were the models of the later Thai forest tradition . Since the hills to the west of the old city consisted of a sparse forest, the forest monks lived here in about a dozen temples scattered on the hills.

Attractions

The main buildings of Wat Chedi Ngam are oriented in an east-west direction. A path "paved" with slate slabs leads up the hill to the temple.

The eponymous Chedi , bell-shaped in the Sri Lankan style, is in the west. It can be seen from afar. Similar to Wat Chang Rop , it stands on a large, square substructure with a side length of 24 meters. There is a niche on each side that once contained a statue of Buddha .

To the east in front of it, about one meter below, is a meeting hall ( Wihan ), the floor of which is covered with slate. Only a few remains of the round laterite columns remain.

In the north there are some brick and stone structures that may have been kutis . There is a fountain nearby.

literature

  • Betty Gosling: Sukhothai Its History, Culture, And Art . Asia Books (Oxford University Press), Bangkok 1991, ISBN 974-8206-85-8
  • AB Griswold : Towards A History Of Sukhothai Art . The Fine Arts Department, Bangkok 1967 (without ISBN)
  • Dawn F. Rooney: Ancient Sukhothai, Thailand's Cultural Heritage . River Books, Bangkok 2008, ISBN 978-974-9863-42-8
  • Hiram W. Woodward Jr .: Guide to Old Sukhothai . The Fine Arts Department, Bangkok 1972 (without ISBN)

Individual evidence

  1. HRH Prince Damrong Rajanubhab : A History Of Buddhist Monuments In Siam . Bangkok 1929, translated into English by Sulak Sivaraksa , The Siam Society , Bangkok 1962, oh. ISBN

Web links

Commons : Wat Chedi Ngam  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 17 ° 0 ′ 51.2 ″  N , 99 ° 40 ′ 12 ″  E