Nanchang Temple

Terrain

General Condition

Nanchang Temple is an abandoned archaeological site with relatively large remains of ancient ruins compared to the surrounding ancient sites. Located in a private longan orchard area. Between the middle of the ancient monuments of Wat Phra Chao Ong Dam, Wat Pu Pia, Wat That Khao and Wat E Khang, about 500 meters east of the Ping River, about 100 meters north of Wat Pu Pia. Ancient sites are homes, residences and private gardens.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Ping River

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Nanchang is an abandoned archaeological site that is not mentioned in any historical documents. The name of Wat Nan Chang was a new name in 2003, named after the owner of the land around the temple. The condition before the excavation work was found only a mound of dirt appeared and scattered brick formations. After the excavation, it was found that underground with an average depth of 2 meters, there were 13 structures and buildings of different types of temples.

The Fine Arts Department has excavated and restored the ancient site of Wat Nan Chang in 2002 and 2003 (Department of Fine Arts 2005:22 – 27, 95). Found information on ancient sites and antiquities. as follows

Nanchang Temple archaeological site is a large group of ancient ruins. It consists of as many as 13 buildings covering an area of ​​more than 3 rai. There are 3 large periods of construction and restoration of the temple. During the 21st - 22nd Buddhist century

Architectural features

1. Archaeological site No. 1, a chedi, appears only at the base of the chopping board in the rectangular plan. They are stacked in 3 tiers to support the base of the lotus flower in a square plan with the swaying end of the lotus petals, similar to the influence of Laotian art. The northern part was broken and destroyed. but still found fragments of internodes and sprouts in the vicinity.

This pagoda is located on the royal courtyard which was built in later times. At the four corners of the royal courtyard, a bell-shaped chedi is found. The bell body is decorated with stucco designs in the form of flower petals. Similar to the decoration of the bell of the chedi of Wat Phra That Haripunchai, Lamphun Province that was restored in the 20th century and from evidence that appears today The decoration of the corner chedi in this manner has never been seen in Wiang Kum Kam.

In the excavation around the pagoda, stucco pieces were found that frame the arches stacked in descending order. At the end of the arch frame is a large Janaka Naga shape. It is assumed that it is a bell-top castle-shaped chedi.

2. Archaeological site No. 2 Vihara is a temple hall in a rectangular plan. Lift the package only for the first episode, facing east. There is a staircase leading up to the main entrance. and a small stairway at the end of another sanctuary decorated the head of the stairs with a lonely stucco.

Inside the building consists of 7 pairs of columns. The base of the pillars is used by large river stones to support the weight. At the back of the viharn, there is a pedestal in the Patm style. The belly of the tree is decorated with stucco statues of flora and fauna.

3. Archaeological site number 3, the Mekong arch and the temple wall a brick wall There is a Mekong arch on the east side. There is a brick paved walkway leading from the east side of the temple. through the Mekong arch to the stairs leading up to the Viharn at this Mekong arch Found evidence that a wooden door, 2 baht, can be opened inside.

4. Archaeological site number 4 is a castle-shaped building. in a rectangular chart There is a stairway leading up to the main entrance decorated with Makkaya Naga motifs in the front. And there is a small staircase that is probably only used by monks to walk up to the building on the west side.

This building looks like a high platform building. Inside, found the base of large square pillars, made of bricks, 4 groups of 4 each. From the layout of the building, it was assumed that it was a castle-shaped building, possibly built for enshrining important Buddha images. There are at least 2 sets of overlapping wooden roofs, covered with clay tiles.

Excavations resulted in a stucco fragment of a Kirin figure. This is probably the ruins of one of the first buildings of the Nanchang Temple in the 1st era, embedded under the base of a pillar. In addition, it was found that the base of this building was built on the east wall of the 1st era temple. It can be concluded that this building is a construction of the 2nd era of Wat Nanchang.

5. Archaeological site number 5 is a group of monks accommodation buildings. It is located to the west of the temple. The floor plan of the building is torn from the axis of the viharn, pagoda and the Mekong arch. including outside the temple walls in the 1st era, so it may be that This building was built in the second era of Wat Nanchang.

In the excavation, evidence of construction and major repairs were found several times. There was an extension of the building to change the area as a residence. It found traces of dividing the space inside the building into several small rectangular rooms. A room similar to a toilet was also found on the southwestern part of the newly renovated building.

6. Archaeological site number 6 is a well in round and square layouts. There are 5 ponds in the temple territory. Ponds 1 – 3 are found on the south side of the temple, numbers 4 and 5 are found outside the eastern temple area. Specifically, No. 5 found evidence that it was excavated after building an earthen wall to the east of Nanchang Temple. This is evidence of the use of the eastern area of ​​the temple as a residence.

7. Ancient monument number 7 is a hall building in a rectangular plan. brick floor and built over the south wall of the temple It is a building that is placed parallel to the temple line. Therefore, it may be a building that was used as a pavilion and was built in the 2nd era.

8. Ancient monument number 8 is a group of 3 brick buildings arranged in a row in the east-west direction. Between the rooms there is a trace of a small door connected. From the layout, it is assumed that the two side buildings are Buddhist monks. The middle back has a brick staircase above the level of the internal working floor of the side building. Therefore, it is assumed that it is a drum tower or a bell tower.

9. Ancient monument number 9 is a brick building in a rectangular plan. The functionality cannot be clearly stated. But since this building is aligned with building number 8, it may also be a monastic residence building.

10. Ancient Monument No. 10 is a brick building in a small rectangular plan with a small entrance-exit door on the northwest of the building. because it was built near a well Therefore, it is assumed that it is a room for bathing the monks.

11. Archaeological site number 11 is an altar in a rectangular shape. Found on the east side of Building No. 4

12. Archaeological site number 12 is a building for storing materials. Found around the northwestern wall of the temple It looks like a low hall building. On the building, a pile of clay tiles were found to be arranged neatly.

13. Archaeological Site No. 13, found only the foundation of a 4.3 meter wide building, unable to determine its function. And since this building was built over by Building No. 9, it may be an early building. of Wat Nanchang

Artifacts found

Ancient artifacts found include:Pieces of white glass Buddha images, part of Phra Ura 1 piece, terracotta Buddha parts of Phra Ura 2 pieces, Phra Lao 1 piece, arm 1 piece and the face of the Buddha statue 1 piece, found a stucco with floral pattern, Kankod pattern, Kilen pattern. The image of a lion and Hemaraj (Phaya Hong), etc.

In addition, clay pots were also found from Lanna kilns such as San Kamphaeng kilns, Phan kilns, Wiang Kalong kilns. and Sukhothai furnace source

As for Chinese wares, as many as 55 pieces were found, 47 of which were found behind the castle building adjacent to the western wall, 1.80 – 2.00 meters deep from the current soil surface. in a brown earthenware pot shaped with a large mouth The top has a brick covering the lid of a round bronze container. Characteristics of Ming dynasty wares (1911 - 2187), painted in blue under glaze, in perfect condition, and 8 more found at the well outside the temple in the northeast. Arranged in a sloping manner in the water-borne sedimentary sand layer.

Other types of antiques found include clay pawns, shell pawns, slate pencils, bronze plates, bronze hairpins, and bronze spoons, among others.

Determination of age

Assumed from the architectural style and antiquities found Wat Nanchang was probably built during the 20th - 21st Buddhist centuries.