Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong It is a temple that is still in use today. It is located outside the city of Chiang Saen in the southeast. or located in the city of Chiang Saen Noi Located in the area between Highway 1129 (Chiang Saen - Chiang Khong) and the Mekong River, far from the southern moat of Chiang Saen. Come south along Highway 1129 for about 4.2 kilometers or beyond Phra That Pha Ngao for about 1 kilometer by the important ancient sites within the temple, including 2 relics or Phra That Song Phi Nong. These archaeological sites have been excavated. restoration And the landscape has been improved.

Height above mean sea level

379 meters

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

historical era

era/culture

Lanna period

Archaeological age

19th-21st Buddhist Century

Mythological age

After 1888

Types of archaeological sites

religious place

archaeological essence

Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong is located in the city of Chiang Saen Noi or Wiang Khuan. Which, according to legend, is the city where King Saen Phu rested his army after traveling from Chiang Mai. and consulted with the Sena Amart before building the city of Chiang Saen, so it was called Wiang Bereksa or Wiang Khuan.

Important archaeological sites of Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong include 2 chedi (the origin of the name Phra That Song Phi Nong) namely the north one and the south one. There is no clear construction history. It is believed that the southern relics were built to contain the ashes of Phaya Khamfu. (1881-1888)

from the form of a chedi that is a castle with five peaks (South side) is probably a chedi in the early Lanna period. Around the end of the 19th Buddhist century, which may be related to the legend that Phaya Saen Phu built this city before building Chiang Saen. and continued to be used until later The bell (North body) age can be determined around the middle to the end of the 21st Buddhist century.

Excavation and excavation in the year 2005 according to the project of conservation and development of the historical city of Chiang Saen. Found a lot of important evidence such as

- Sandstone Inscription Piece Inscribed in Thai Lanna characters Even if it is damaged, it can be read in words. Age around the 21st Buddhist century because it is an era where temples and Buddha images are built with sandstone.

- Pieces of amulets in Haripunchai style Bronze Lanna Buddha Pieces Sandstone Buddha statues in the name of Chang Phayao

- Porcelain from the old town of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai stoves (19th-20th Buddhist century)

- Lanna wares From Lamphun kilns, San Kamphaeng kilns, Wiang Kalong kilns, Phan kilns, Phayao kilns (20th - 21st Buddhist century)

- Chinese wares from the Ming Dynasty (1911-2187)

- Laos ware

- Burmese wares Shows the influence of Burmese in Chiang Saen. (Age around the 22nd-23rd Buddhist century), which usually in Chiang Saen will not find many wares of this type.

It can be said that Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong is an archaeological site where one of Chiang Saen's most diverse wares has been found.

from various archaeological evidence Point out that this temple is one of the most important temples in Chiang Saen and Chiang Saen Noi. It also shows the continued existence of the community from the earliest days of the city to the days when the city was abandoned.

Wat Phra That Song Phi Nong is a large temple. There are many buildings. Important constructions are:

There are 2 Phra That or Phra That Song Phi Nong, located 200 meters apart along the north-south line.

1. Phra That Song Rakhang or Chedi No. 1 (northern body or Phra That Ong Nong) is a Lanna-style bell-shaped chedi in a group that supports the bell body in an octagonal plan. which is an art form in the latter days (It's the most common form of Chiang Saen) defining the age around the middle to the end of the 21st Buddhist century.

The bottom base is a 2-tier chopping board base that supports the base of the lotus-facing lotus. square diagram Above is the base of the miniature glass beads lotus. high wood The octagonal vine garland is rehearsed in descending order to receive a relatively small bell body. (North to collapse which probably consisted of a throne, segments, and spires) with brick floors surrounding the base of the chedi The north side looks like a doorway in the area surrounding the pagoda.

However, art historians say that this relic is different from the chedi of the same group in two parts:the first part, the bottom base which the main garden has only the two lotus bases overlapping. up 1 more base to support these 2 overlapping lotus bases which has never been seen before except at Wat That Green Chiang Saen Noi This should be an additional task in order to make the pagoda taller. Because the base of the lotus-facing lotus often appears in the general use of support for running construction. Or possibly it was the base of the pre-existing pagoda. but has been renovated using the same base Then build a bell-shaped chedi in Lanna style that supports the octagonal bell that is popular later. is the middle of the 21st Buddhist century as seen today.

The second part is different. The lotus base set - the facing lotus supports the 3 bases of the bell in the octagonal layout, there is no decoration of 2 chicken breast beads like a pagoda in the same group. except the chedi at Wat That Khiao Chiang Saen Noi Only the chedi at Wat That Green is in the circular layout. Such traits may be caused by later evolution that has already become. or may be restored later with with the construction of the base of the lotus-facing lotus in the first part Or it may be related to the base with the addition of one more base of the lotus-facing lotus base, making the pagoda significantly higher. Therefore, the abundance of lotus bases supporting the bell body is not very high. so there is no chicken breast bead decoration. Or it may be that the characteristics that are different from these two popular styles may be the peculiarities of this town's craftsmen.

2. Phra That Ha Yot or Chedi No. 2 (the southern one or Phra That Ong Phi) is located at the end of the Viharn. (adjacent to the viharn on the west side) is Phra That Prasat Ha Yod. which is classified in the early stages of Lanna art Around the beginning of the 19th Buddhist century, it is believed that it was built to contain the remains of Lord Kham Fu. (1881-1888)

The bottom base is a 3 tier chopping board base, above it is a chicken breast lotus base that doesn't stretch as high as the later Lanna art. (The art form is very close to Bagan art). Next up is a relic that is made into a square room. No additions, corners, columns on the walls, decorated with overlapping arches. Inside the arch enshrines a standing Buddha image. Around the arch decorated with stucco patterns. Above the arch frame line, there are rows of peka sheaths that are quite plump and adorned. The top is a chedi with 5 peaks (the main chedi in the middle and the chedi at all 4 corners), the shape of a round bell at the lower neck It is currently in a broken state. This bell body is similar to the bell of one of the chedi in Wat Phra Phai Luang, Sukhothai Province, and the bell body in Burmese Bagan art.

Surrounding the relics is a royal courtyard with brick floors covering the entire area. surrounded by masonry glass walls On the east side, there are 2 door openings (left-right) in the position beside the temple on both sides.

As for the relics and the stucco arches that are decorated with stucco patterns. Art historians say that the pattern is very close to the early Bagan art. (Including Haripunchai art), especially the frame of the arch. The pattern decorated the chanam arch, the pattern on the top, the lower cladding, and the pattern of the chest guard on the wall pillars and the cha-nam pole. Age can be determined around the 19th century.

There are at least 2 temples, namely

1. North Temple or a viharn in front of Chedi No. 1, located next to Phra That shaped bell or Chedi No. 1 in the east. or in front of the relics Currently, it appears as the base of a brick building, with a high platform, a large rectangular plan. facing east As for the brick base, it is the base of the board. There are entrance stairs at the front and sides. Behind the central sanctuary was made a protruding chamber. Inside the room appeared the Chukchi base. (Phra Buddha image?) There is a brick floor around the area. From past excavations, a brick pavement was found continuing from the stairway of the viharn at the front. Connect to the ubosot There are square bases along the line.

2. South Temple or viharn in front of Chedi No. 2, located next to Phra That Ha Yod or Chedi No. 2 on the east. or in front of the relics Currently, it appears as the base of a brick building with a raised platform, rectangular plan, 14 meters wide, 18 meters long, facing east. As for the brick base, it is the base of the board. There is a staircase leading up to the front. At the end of the viharn is a room enshrining a stucco Buddha image on a Chukchi base. Currently, it is a newly built Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara.

The chapel is located to the north of the viharn. The east side of the bell-shaped relics or chedi No. 1, the general condition has collapsed. Appears only at the base of the masonry board that is raised very high. The building plan is rectangular. facing north There is a stairway going up in the middle of the front. connected to the building or temple in front (East side) of Pagoda No. 1, found sandstone parapets embroidered around. On the east side of the ubosot, there is a brick well and a walkway connecting to the temple is found.

In addition, from the excavation of the Fine Arts Department Several ancient ruins were also found on the north side of the temple. Surrounding the northern viharn and bell-shaped relics or chedi No. 1, for example

Archaeological site number 1 consists of

1. The base of the building is rectangular in shape. located in the west Positioned along the north-south line The masonry base is the base of the board. Except for the east side, made as a base set.

2. Square-shaped building located in the east There is an entrance and exit by making a walkway. extending north The brick base is the base of the board. Except for the west side, made as a base set.

The two buildings were connected by corridors. The masonry was found as a square pillar base. It was also found that bricks were laid on top of both buildings.

Historic Site No. 2, the base of the building has a square plan. It is a building with a base spreading and raising the floor. The masonry base is the base of the board. except for the north side, made into a patch set On the east side of the building there is a long brick protruding north.

Historic Site No. 3, a rectangular building with a raised platform, located in front of the Viharn in the south. Facing north towards the Mekong River On the south side, there is a falling wall. The masonry base is the base of the board. Found a masonry pedestal with stones embroidered all around in the direction.

Historic Site No. 4, rectangular-shaped building in front of the viharn, tends to the south Continuing from archaeological site number 3, it is a building that makes a platform base. As for the brick base, it is the base set for the face of the board.

Historic Site No. 5, rectangular-shaped building It is located in the northeast of the ordination hall. The remaining condition is the brick line. that looks like a base frame of a building

Historic Site No. 6, rectangular-shaped building It is located in the southwest of the ordination hall. The remaining condition is the brick line. that looks like a base frame of a building

Historic Site No. 7, a square-shaped building It is located to the south of the main chedi. The remaining condition is the brick line. that looks like a base frame of a building

There are 3 sides of the temple wall, namely east, west and south, leaving behind a brick line that looks like a foundation.