Wat Ratcha-orasaram
 
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Location of Wat Ratcha-orasaram |
Wat Ratcha-orasaram Ratchaworawihan ( Thai : วัด ราช โอรสา ราม ราชวรวิหาร ), or Wat Ratcha-orot ( วัด ราชโอรส ; also written Wat Raja Orasaram or Ratchaorotsaram ) is a Buddhist temple ( Wat ) in the ( Khet ) Chom Thong district of Bangkok, Thailand . The temple is located on the western bank of the Khlong Sanam Chai , which connects the Mae Nam Chao Phraya ( Chao Phraya River ) with Samut Songkhram via the Khlong Bangkok Yai .
history
The temple was built in the Ayutthaya period, at that time it was still called "Wat Chom Thong". When the new King Bagyidaw ascended the throne in Burma during the reign of King Phuttaloetla ( Rama II ) in 1819 , rumors arose that the Burmese were planning a new attack on the young Thaination. In order to be prepared for all eventualities, the king's son, Prince Chesda Bodin, was sent to the border at Ratchaburi with a well-equipped army in order to counter a possible invasion as early as possible. The army was transported to the target area by ship via khlongs . According to legend, the prince reached Wat Chom Thong on the first night, where he stayed. The abbot of the temple had calculated an opportune time to perform an ancient brahmin ceremony called khon tawan ("bless the warriors on the eve of war"). The prince vowed that if he returned victorious from the war, he would renovate the temple. So the prince guarded the border until the beginning of the rainy season, but the Burmese did not appear. Although no battle was fought, the prince felt bound by his vows and began the renovation work. The temple was later given a new name by King Rama II: Wat Ratcha-orot - "Temple of the King's Son", as it had been renovated by him.
The renovation work was completed after 14 years, and Prince Chesda Bodin had meanwhile been crowned Phra Nang Klao ( Rama III ), the third king of the Chakri dynasty . As king he gave the temple the rank of “ Royal Temple First Class ” and from then on called it Wat Ratcha-orasaram Ratchaworawihan .
Architectural style
At that time, the king preferred a Chinese-influenced architectural style that even got its own name: Sinlapa Phra Ratchaniyom ( ศิลปะ พระ ราช นิยม - “the art preferred by the king”). The Wihan and the Ubosot have been renewed in this interesting mix of styles with Thai and Chinese elements . Wat Ratcha-orasaram was the first temple that was built without the traditional decorations of the temple roof ( see : Chofah ).
Attractions
- The ubosot : the Chinese roof is covered with tiles in the Thai colors green and orange, it rests on 18 unadorned square columns. The gable field is decorated with Chinese stucco motifs. The main Buddha statue inside was built during the reign of King Rama III. created, she has a meditation hand position. The walls are covered with Chinese-style paintings similar to those of Wat Phanang Choeng in Ayutthya.
- The throne under a shady tree on the northeast corner of the Ubosot, where Prince Chesda Bodin sat when visiting the temple to see the restoration work.
- The Phra Rabieng , the gallery around the Wihan, has the same roof shape as the Ubosot, plus round entrance gates (Chinese "moon gates") to the forecourt. In the forecourt itself there are 32 chedis in a regular arrangement around the Wihan.
- The Wihan : outside entrance gates decorated with gold lacquer technique and gold reliefs of dancing Thevada, inside paintings of peacocks and birds in a Chinese-style landscape. Inside a huge reclining Buddha statue , but smaller than the reclining Buddha in Wat Pho .
- Chinese pavilions ( sala ) and chedis throughout the temple area
Khlong Sanam Chai at Wat Ratcha-orasaram
Passage to the Ubosot
Wat Ratcha-orasaram: gable of the Ubosot
Forecourt at the Wihan of the reclining Buddha
Web links
Coordinates: 13 ° 42 ′ 10.4 ″ N , 100 ° 27 ′ 51.6 ″ E