Wat Yai Dong Rak

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Yai Dong Rang is located in the municipality of Nong Dok Ya Khao Subdistrict. or located in the south of Nong Khao Subdistrict The measurement area is a mound about 300 meters long (north-south), about 200 meters wide (east-west), surrounded by agricultural areas. Some parts of the former hills may have been plowed into agricultural land. Geographical features are generally river plains. The temple is located 7.5 kilometers north of the Mae Klong River.

The mound located at the temple is about 400-500 meters south of the main mound where the present Nong Khao Subdistrict is located. To the south of the mound is a small ancient river flowing through it. It is now very shallow. and was adjusted to be agricultural land at some point On the east side of the temple is an irrigation canal. (Some parts of this irrigation canal may be dug up along the same natural river)

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mae Klong River

Geological conditions

The condition of the area is a plain along the Mae Klong River. Formed by the deposition of sediments in the Quaternary period.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Information from the National Bureau of Buddhism states that Wat Yai Dong Rang is a royal temple. Under the Maha Nikaya Sangha, the temple was established in 1986, probably built since the Ayutthaya period. There is a local history indicating that the temple when Ayutthaya was the capital. Kanchanaburi is a frontier city and an army route. At that time, Nong Khao Sub-district consisted of 2 villages, namely Dong Rang Village. (There is a village temple, which is Wat Som Yai or Wat Yai Dong Rang) and Don Kradueng Village. (There is a church temple as a temple in the village)

The war with Burma in the late Ayutthaya period, the villagers of the two villages gathered together to fight the enemy bravely. (There is evidence of the fighting area at Thung Khu in the present Nong Khao Subdistrict) until the village was destroyed. Only the remains of temples and pagodas remain. After the war ended, the villagers fled and gathered around the big swamp. set up a village "Ban Nong Ya Dok Khao"

in the Rattanakosin period Many kings went to Ban Nong Dok Ya Khao. Because it is a route through Kanchanaburi, such as King Rama IV and King Rama 5, he went to Kan and passed Nong Khao, as the Rattanakosin Chronicle of Chao Phraya Thiphakonwong said that the next morning on Friday, the 14th night of the waning moon, he left the pavilion. Kan city to Ban Nong Khao pavilion stay for one night and wrote in one part of the Diary poem that

“People abound, but they see more than five hundred sitting in front of the tabernacle, writing tables, betel nut, and rustic khan pan. Four-five cylinders of Khao Lam Khao Lam, Khanom Phai, arranged in succession until each other, little by little, sat and waited to offer offerings, surrounded in unison. addressing every page that came, they responded with their voices. Listen to Nana as if with a different accent. Some of them raised their voices against each other.”

Nong Khao people believe that it is Wat Som Yai or Wat Yai Dong Rang or this big temple. It is a temple at Khun Krai. Khun Phaen's father came to study subjects. and is where Wat Plai Kaew or Khun Phaen comes to ordain as a novice (Literature of Khun Chang Khun Phaen)

Nong Khao village has grown in order until now. Wat Yai Dong Rang, the temple of Dong Rang Village, which was abandoned after the Second Ayutthaya War, was restored and set up as a new temple around 1982, while Wat Bot, the temple of the Don village. Krathong has been abandoned until now it is the location of Nongkhao Kowitpittayakom School. The only thing that remains is the pagoda.

The archaeological site inside Wat Yai Dong Rang has not been registered as a historical site. According to the history of the temple, there were many ancient sites inside the temple, including viharn, church, pagoda and bell tower, as well as wells. The temple was renovated in 1995.

Wat Yai Dong Rang, sometimes referred to by locals as Wat Yai. It was formerly known as Wat Som Yai. Historically, there are many ancient sites within the temple, including viharas, churches, pagodas, bell towers and wells, but from today's surveys, only the bell tower, viharn and well remain.

bell tower It is located in the fence line in front of the temple or on the east side of the temple. Adjacent to the road and irrigation canal is a 3-storey brick building, currently painted in red. The ground floor is a high base floor. solid construction on all sides On the south side, there are stairs leading up to the 2nd, 2nd and 3rd floors in a mondop style.

On the 2nd floor, there is a room with door openings on all 4 sides. The outer door frame is stuccoed in a Naga pattern. In the past, they used to hang bells. but currently there is no The balcony of the second floor is made of a low fence. Drill a rectangular hole vertically along the line. 2nd floor doorway

The 3rd floor is made up of a solid layer, with holes on all 4 sides, but the solids do not penetrate each other. Above the four channels is a three-tiered gable, next up is the top that is made up of a small bell-shaped pagoda.

Villagers believe that this bell tower was built during the time of Thailand's war in Burma. late Ayutthaya period It was last restored on January 29, 1995.

Old Temple in the west of the bell tower It looks like the remains of a brick temple base. rectangular chart facing wide to the east and west, approximately 11 meters wide and about 15 meters long (roughly measured On the east side is a wooden shrine and a sign "Old Viharn", on the west side sits the current Buddha image. (Pang Pa Lelai?) On the north side are 2 small serpent statues, incense burners and a basin.

Around the base of the old temple was a fence made of chains. There are brick fragments and small piles of clay around, most likely traces of the excavation of this old temple.

well It is located to the west of the old temple. The layout is quite round. About 25 meters in diameter, surrounded by a long serpent statue. There is a statue of Goddess of Mercy and the Shrine of Grandfather Chak Krot in the east. (The side next to the old temple)

In addition to ancient sites There is also a viharn located to the north of the well. Inside enshrines a cast-iron Buddha image and a statue of Luang Por Yod. The important monks of the temple The base of the Buddha image is engraved on the year that the faithful offer it, that is, 1997? and 2006, the walls both inside and outside painted a picture of the pagoda of the year of Thailand's birth. along with important information such as the history and worship of the relics

To the northwest of the viharn, the chapel is being built and the main Buddha image is cast in the posture of a Naga.