Wat Pa Sak

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Pa Sak is located to the west outside the city of Chiang Saen. Adjacent to the city moat, the city wall, the Pa Sak Gate or the Chiang Saen Gate and Fort Chiang Saen The condition of the area is a plain caused by the deposition of convective sediments and interstitial sediments. It is located about 1 kilometer west of the Mekong River, 350 meters east of the Kham River.

Currently, Wat Pa Sak is an abandoned temple. There are many ancient ruins and hills within the temple. Most have been excavated. restoration And the landscape has been improved.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mekong River

Geological conditions

Chiang Saen is located on the west bank of the Mekong River. in the Chiang Saen Plain, which is a large plain formed by the deposition of sediments especially sand gravel In the Quaternary Era

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Pa Sak is now an abandoned temple. The history of the temple appears in the legend of Singhanat Kumar and the 61st Annals of the Conference said that there was a great Thera named Buddhakhosachan has brought the Buddha's relics on the right (Right astragalus bone), the size of a mung bean, came from Pataliputra to offer to Phra Chao Saen Phu. King of Chiang Saen Therefore, he ordered the construction of Phra That Chedi outside the Chiang Saen city gate. to contain the relics Then please build a monastery with a width of 50 wa on each side in 1838 B.E. (or 1871 B.E.), and then please bring teak trees to be planted around the monastery, totaling 300 trees. known as "Wat Pa Sak" since then At the same time, King Saen Phu also appointed Phra Buddha Kosajarn to be the Great Thera Patriarch of this monastery.

“In 1838, there was a Sovereign who took a relic of the Buddha's right-foot-eye bone relic as big as a pea nut. took only the area of ​​Pataliputra brought to Phraya Ratchasaen Phu and he was accompanied by the Sangha to build a great chedi outside the Chiang Saen Gate On the side of his own west to Wat Phra Luang outside that place It was built into a width of 50 wa, and 300 teak trees were planted around the wall and called Wat Pa Sak since then. and then built a cloister as an alms giving to the Sangha Sangha. The Buddhakosachan was there. and became patriarch of the Great Synod, and stayed there for as long as there was a forest.”

The most important archaeological site of the temple is Chedi or the principal relic of the temple It is a chedi in the Lanna period in the early stages. Age around the beginning of the 20th Buddhist century

From the report of the excavation of Wat Pa Sak Temple in 1992, archaeologists found many artifacts, such as a piece of tiered tiered parts that are openworked with flowers. Metal plaques embossed with lotus motifs, gilded plates, gold plates (looks like brass plates painted with liquid and gilded), as well as a sandstone replica of the stupa Buddha head Pieces of the amulet or the lap of a sandstone Buddha image in the subduing Mara posture. Tough burnt bricks scratch the pattern like a dragon. The terracotta pawn is round. The rain is smooth on all sides, the edges are rounded. Orange flesh

In addition, a number of pottery vessels were also found, such as fragments of lacquered painted black wares from Wiang Ka Long kilns. Green glazed wares from Wang Nuea kiln (Lampang) Green glazed wares from San Kamphaeng kiln (Chiang Mai) Traditional unglazed clay jars and a porcelain jar painted with duck motifs in the middle of the lotus pond during the Ming Dynasty. (1911-2187)

Another important antique is a large number of stucco designs, such as the Kiat Muk stucco pattern. stucco angel parts Stucco decorated with the Mekong arch, such as the royal pattern, flower pattern, vine pattern, Garuda pattern, dragon pattern, and three-headed Naga pattern, etc.

For important stucco pieces of Pasak Pasak Pagoda on display at the Chiang Saen National Museum are stucco statues depicting Garuda Yudnak. and stucco It is accepted that the stucco work of Wat Pa Sak Temple was created by a master sculptor. Shapes have a clear structure and volume with proportions. There is a rhythm in order and placement. It is a work that shows high aesthetics.

Wat Pa Sak is located to the west outside the city of Chiang Saen. Adjacent to the city moat, the city wall, the Pa Sak Gate or the Chiang Saen Gate and Fort Chiang Saen The condition of the area is a plain caused by the deposition of convective sediments and interstitial sediments. It is located about 1 kilometer west of the Mekong River, 350 meters east of the Kham River.

Currently, Wat Pa Sak is an abandoned temple. There are many ancient ruins and hills within the temple. Most have been excavated. restoration and improve the landscape Details of important ancient sites are as follows:

President Chedi It is located behind or on the west side of the temple. It is a chedi in the shape of a castle peak. The bottom base is a square, 14.6 meters wide on each side, 21 meters high. The bottommost base is a chopping board base to support the base of the two overlapping lotus bases. The wooden base of the lower lotus base is made into a square. The upper floor is decorated with octagonal openings all around. (Similar to Dvaravati and Bagan art)

Next up is the lower elemental house. starting from the lotus base Above it is a floor that is pierced into a niche, enshrining three Buddha images on each side. It is an open-world Buddha image. but there is a body that is in the north facade in a dancing posture There are 4 arches of the Archangels, the Lord Buddha's arches are larger than the Lord Buddha's arches. The base on which this Buddha image is enshrined is similar to the chedi of Wat Ku Kut, Lamphun Province, but at Ku Kut there are 5 floors, while Wat Pa Sak has only one floor. And there is an increase of the Chaplain of the Archangel, consisting of both sides of the Chaplain Arch of the Buddha Image. and at the pole, there is an angel standing with his hands adorned with another layer At the pillars of the four corners of this ground floor elemental house It is decorated with beautiful stucco patterns. It is a stucco with Kiat Muk pattern. which looks like a face, but has a head and upper lip no lower jaw which originated from the religious beliefs of Brahmans

Above the elemental house, the ground floor is the top of the Prasat Chedi. Start from the 3 chopping board bases in the square layout. Support the base of the overturned lotus - a low facing lotus on the bottom of the tree decorated with glass beads. It is in the lift plan to support the elemental house.

Ruen that consists of Chacha Chau. Enshrined a standing Buddha image on all 4 sides. It is a 2-storey arch. The top of the arch is made of a pod pod or a klek arch. At the end of the arch is a three-headed serpent. At the corner of the elemental house decorate the wall pillar. In the middle of the relic, between the wall pillars and the porch, there is a stucco Buddha image attached to every wall. At present, only the northern side is left that is likely to be the Leela Buddha image.

Next to the relics is the top, which is a bell-shaped chedi without a throne. It consists of a base that is similar to a lotus-facing lotus. Dwarf pattern decoration The top of the lotus base is decorated with a small chedi at the four corners, known as the stupica. Above this floor is the base of the lotus-facing lotus in the octagonal plan. separated by a square pillar lined around Then there is a lotus facing the petals overlapping the pollen. expand to support sending bells Next up, make a small bell There is a stucco pattern regularly when the chest is tied. alternating with lotus Continue with Bua Waeng to support segments and plant stems respectively.

From the art of the Pasak Pasak Pagoda, both architecture and sculpture Especially the patterns and stucco sculptures adorning the pagodas, such as stucco Buddha images (pang lila), stucco devas, stucco Garuda and Kinnaree, Kranok designs, upper cladding patterns, lower cladding patterns, guard designs, and Peka pod designs above the facade. Most art historians believe that The art of Pasak Pasak Pagoda is probably influenced by Bagan art through Sukhothai, along with the receipt of Lankawong Buddhism from Sukhothai. Around the beginning of the 20th Buddhist century

In addition, there are also other arts mixed in, such as the drawing of a stucco angel's fabric, similar to Lanka art. The standing Buddha image in the open posture is enshrined in the altar of the Ruan That influenced by Sukhothai art. The large lotus petal pattern or giant toothed lotus is influenced by the Indian art of Pala. Stucco with cloud pattern, glass channel pattern, lotus flower pattern and peony pattern. Influenced by Chinese art through Chinese wares and Lanna wares.

However, there are some works of art that should have been done in later times, such as the Buddha image in the open world posture. (Probably made in the late 20th Buddhist century or early 21st Buddhist century) Buddha image in the posture of a dance at the south side of the arch with stucco over the original layout. (Sculpted over at the end of the 22nd-23rd Buddhist century)

Viharn Luang It is located in front or on the east side of the main chedi. Rectangular plan, width 16 meters, length 32 meters, facing east. Made of bricks and mortar and laterite. On the sanctuary, 8 laterite columns are found plastered. In front of the viharn there is a porch that connects to a long corridor from the front of the temple paved with octagonal bricks.

Ubosot It is located away from Viharn Luang, separated by a small viharn. The ordination hall faces east. There is a rectangular plan of bricks and mortar. Connect the chapel with a pagoda which collapsed. The castle was built inside And there is a tower blocking the front of the chapel.

Archaeological site number 6 It is a brick building with mortar. It consists of a viharn and a pagoda at the end of the viharn. facing north which the orientation of the building is different from other ancient monuments In Wat Pa Sak