Sri Suriyothai Chedi

Terrain

General Condition

It is located within the western island of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Along the Chao Phraya River and along the U-Thong Road Within the territory of Wat Suan Luang Sop Sawan and the Office of Fine Arts No. 3, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Has been excavated and restored already.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Chao Phraya River, Pa Sak River, Lop Buri River, Noi River, Khlong Muang

Geological conditions

The central plains are caused by the movement of major faults, namely the Mae Ping Fault (almost connected to the Moei Fault), Uttaradit Fault (Nam Pat), and the Three Chedi Fault. from the Late Cretaceous to the Tertiary This is a continuation of the launch of the southern Gulf of Thailand. and the formation of tertiary basins in the northern and upper western regions followed by north-south fault formation (Bunopas, 1981). sedimentary plains, waterways, lakes, and semi-waterways and lakes

geological features Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Located in the southern central plains Make it deep under the ground of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province It is a source of large pebbles. Gravels and sand are large and rounded. Groundwater accumulates between gaps and grains of pebbles and sand. interspersed with clay layers resulting in multiple layers of groundwater and is a layer of water that spreads widely horizontally has unique hydrogeological properties which is a characteristic found in most of the groundwater layers of the South Central Plain, that is, each layer of groundwater There will be a layer of clay under support. and covered on top Classified as groundwater under pressure (Confined aquifer)

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

The Si Suriyothai Chedi is the only prominent golden chedi on the west side of the island of Ayutthaya. Along the Chao Phraya River Located near Hua Laem which is the confluence of the Lop Buri River or the upper moat with the Chao Phraya River On the opposite side of this chedi are Wat Kasattrathirat and Wat Thammaram. which are different temples that have existed since the Ayutthaya period as well.

Sri Suriyothai Chedi It is a twelve wooden recessed chedi. in a manner similar to the Golden Mountain Chedi what is different is on the top of the four corners of the Si Suriyothai Chedi There is a small pagoda located.

Si Suriyothai Chedi is a chedi that His Majesty King Rama IV ordered to build as a chedi of his reign at Wat Pho. (Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, Bangkok), which is one of the chedi among the 4 Maha Chedi, the first reign of the Rattanakosin period.

In 1990, the pagoda was restored by the High Command. and discovered a plastered compartment for valuables on the pillar above the throne. Objects discovered include a quartz stone Buddha statue. Quartz bell-shaped pagoda Hexagonal model pagoda containing gold casket on a hexagonal terracotta base covered with gold, beads, gems and gold leaf, etc., currently kept in the Mahathat Room. in the Chao Sam Phraya Museum

In the Ayutthaya Chronicle states that Sri Suriyothai Chedi is a chedi built to contain the remains of Phra Suriyothai. Empress Dowager who disguised him as a man like a viceroy Waging war with the army of King Tabengchaweti of Burma at the Golden Mountain Field, Suriyothai was slashed to death on the elephant's neck. Therefore, the cremation of His Highness was offered. in the royal garden area of ​​the rear palace area and then built this stupa Including the dedication of this area as a temple and give it a name Wat Suan Luang Sop Sawan

However, in history, the case of disguising himself as a man for war has been questioned. whether it is a matter of credibility or a true story In architecture, it has been suspected that The chedi with twelve wooden indented corners is probably the most popular type of chedi built in the late Ayutthaya period or the reign of King Boromkot. Rather than being in the middle Ayutthaya period or the Emperor's era. It is also noted that The construction of the main chedi of Buddhist temples It was generally built to dedicate or commemorate the Lord Buddha and not to contain the remains of any person. but to contain the relics But if it is a chedi that contains a person's ashes, it is not the main chedi of that temple.

Due to the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces has carried out the restoration of the Sri Suriyothai Chedi Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province which is an important ancient monument that His Majesty King Maha Chakraborty would like to build as a memorial to Somdej Phra Suriyothai His wife, who died in battle with Burma in 1548, the restoration of the pagoda. Including improving the landscape condition was completed in 1991.

After the restoration of the pagoda was completed The Supreme Military Command considers that the Buddha image should be enshrined at the Si Suriyothai pagoda. Coinciding with the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit Her Majesty the Queen His Majesty's 60th birthday in 1992, the Supreme Command then informed Somdej Phra Yannasangworn. Patriarch Sakolmahasangkhaparinayok to bring respect to Her Majesty the Queen Her Majesty the Queen Ask the King to build a Buddha image. His Majesty dedicated to Somdej Phra Suriyothai Her Majesty Her Majesty the Queen His Majesty graciously Let the Supreme Command to build a Buddha image. and gave the name "Phra Buddha Suriyothai Sirikit Dikhayu Mongkhon" means Buddha is auspicious of Somdej Phra Suriyothai. and prosperous life of Her Majesty the Queen Her Majesty the Queen (Department of Fine Arts. Important Buddha images)

According to the study of Prof. Dr. Santi Leksukhum, this chedi is probably the oldest rectangular chedi. Built in the reign of King Maha Chakraborty By Ayutthaya technicians, the angle of the prang and the top-shaped chedi blended with the round chedi. until it was born into a new chedi, which is the unique identity of Ayutthaya (Tawatchai Ongwutiwet Krungsriayudhya learning guide)