Thai Temple Art and Architecture Is The Art and Architecture of
Thai Temple Art and Architecture Is The Art and Architecture of
Contents
Architecture
Phutthawat
Sangkhawat
Temple elements
Roof forms
Roof finials
Popular temple icons
Interior of Ubosot of Wat Hong
See also Rattanaram, Bangkok
Depictions of the Buddha
Statues and ornamentation: deities, demons and
mythical beings
Architectural elements
General
Sources
Further reading
External links
Architecture
Wat architecture adheres to consistent principles. A wat, with few exceptions, consists of two parts: the
Phutthawat and the Sangkhawat.
Phutthawat
The Phutthawat (Thai: พุ ทธาวาส) is the area which is dedicated to Buddha. It generally contains several
buildings:
Chedi (Thai: เจดีย ์) – also known as a Stupa it is mostly in the form of a bell-shaped tower, often
accessible and covered with gold leaf, containing a relic chamber.
Prang (Thai: ปรางค์) – the Thai version of Khmer temple towers, mostly in temples from the
Sukhothai and the Ayutthaya period.
Ubosot or Bot (Thai: อุ โบสถ or Thai: โบสถ์) – the ordination hall and most sacred area of a wat.
Eight Sema stones (Bai Sema, Thai: ใบเสมา) mark the consecrated area.
Wihan (Thai: วิหาร) – a shrine hall that contains the principal Buddha images. It is the assembly
hall where monks and laypeople congregate.
Mondop (Thai: มณฑป) - specific square- or cruciform-based building or shrine, sometimes with
a spired roof. It is a ceremonial form that can be appear on different kinds of buildings. It can
house relics, sacred scriptures or act as a shrine. Unlike the Mandapa of Khmer or Indian
temple, which are part of a larger structure, the Thai Mondop is free-standing.
Ho trai (Thai: หอไตร) – the temple library or scriptures depository houses the sacred Tipiṭaka
scriptures. Sometimes they are built in the form of a Mondop (Thai: พระมณฑป), a cubical-
shaped building where the pyramidal roof is carried by columns.
Sala (Thai: ศาลา) – an open pavilion providing shade and a place to rest.
Sala kan parian (Thai: ศาลาการเปรีย ญ) – a large, open hall where laity can hear sermons or
receive religious education. It literally means "hall, in which monks study for their Parian exam"
and is used for chanting afternoon prayers.
Ho rakhang (Thai: หอระฆัง) – bell tower that is used for waking the monks and to announce the
morning and evening ceremonies.
Phra rabiang (Thai: พระระเบีย ง) – a peristyle sometimes built around the sacred inner area as a
cloister.
Ancillary buildings such as a crematorium or a school.
In temples of the Rattanakosin era, such as Wat Pho and Wat Ratchabophit, the ubosot can be contained within
a (low) inner wall called a Kamphaeng Kaeo (Thai: กํา แพงแก้ว), which translates to "crystal wall".
Ubosot, Ho Trai and Ubosot of Wat Chedi of Wat Ratcha Prang of Wat Phra
Chedi (from left to Prasitthiwet, Nakhon Phatikaram, Si Rattana
right) of Wat Chiang Nayok Bangkok Mahathat,
Man, built in Lanna Phitsanulok
architecture
Reclining Buddha Mondop of Wat Phra Ho Trai of Wat Sala Kan Parian of
inside Wihan Phra Kaew, Bangkok Apson Sawan, Wat Bang Pla,
Non (Wihan of Bangkok Bangkok
Reclining Buddha)
of Wat Phai Lom,
Chnathaburi
Sangkhawat
The sangkhawat (Thai: สังฆาวาส) contains the monks' living quarters.
It lies within the wall surrounding the temple compound. The
sangkhawat can have the following buildings:
Temple elements
Roof forms
Roof finials
Most decorations are attached to the bargeboard, the long, thin panel
on the edge of the roof at the gable ends. The decorative structure is
called the lamyong. The lamyong is sculpted in an undulating, Basic Lamyong decorative structure
serpentine nag sadung shape evoking the Nāga. Its blade-like of roof
projection called bai raka suggest both Nāga fins and the feathers of
Garuda. Its lower finial is called a hang hong, which usually takes the
form of a Nāga's head turned up and facing away from the roof. The Nāga head may be styled in flame-like
kranok motifs and may have multiple heads. A roof with multiple breaks or tiers has identical hang hong
finials at the bottom of each section. Perched on the peak of the lamyong is the large curving ornament called a
Chofah, which resembles the beak of a bird, perhaps representing Garuda.
See also
Architectural elements
Chofa
General
Buddhism in Thailand
List of Buddhist temples in Thailand
Thai art
Ramakien
Sumeru
Himavanta
Sources
Discovery Channel by Scott Rutherford, "Insight Guides: Thailand.", APA Publications GmbH &
Co., 2004.
Discovery Channel by Steve Van Beek, "Insight Pocket Guide: Thailand.", APA Publications
GmbH & Co., 2004.
Maria Grazia Casella and Paola Piacco, "Thailand: Nature and Wonders.", Asia Books
Co,.Ltd., 2004.
John Hoskin and Gerald Cubitt, "This is Thailand.", Asia Books Co., Ltd., 2003
Further reading
Karl Döhring, Buddhist Temples of Thailand: an Architectonic Introduction, White Lotus, 2000.
ISBN 974-7534-40-1
External links
Wat Thai: Dhammathai (http://www.dhammathai.org/watthai/watthai_e.php)
Thai Arts: Architecture (https://web.archive.org/web/20061009213715/http://sunsite.au.ac.th/tha
iland/Thai_Arts/archi.html)
Thai Temples (http://www.thaiworldview.com/wat/wat3.htm)
Thai Stories (http://www.speakingthai.com/stories/grand%20palace.htm)
Thai Architecture (http://www.thai-architecture.com/index.html)
Buddhist Art: Architecture Pt.1 (http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/rarebook/r35/na3578_7ก1
พ43.pdf)
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