white roof temple

Terrain

General condition

White Roof Temple is located in the Phra Ram Lake area. The location of the temple is in the northern area within the island of Ayutthaya. next to the black roof temple (Located to the north of the Black Roof Temple) near Wat Mahathat. It is about 1.30 kilometers north of the Chao Phraya River and about 400 meters south of Khlong Muang in the area of ​​Ayutthaya Historical Park. Has been restored and improved the landscape was completed in 1987

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

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

Geological conditions

The central plain is 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

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Rao Khao (Kong Kaew Virapakram) is currently an abandoned temple located in Bueng Rama Public Park. There is no documentary evidence about the history of the building. The name of the temple "White Roof" is probably called later. to comply with The nearby "Black Roof Temple" on the south side.

The important historical sites of Wat Rao Khao include:

1. Bell-shaped pagoda located on an octagonal base The Fine Arts Department has been excavating and renovating since 1997. making it possible to analyze Such an octagonal base should have been built later. It can be seen from the traces of the royal pedestal which were found to be located at ground level higher than the base of the viharn and the base of the pagoda. and also built over the base of the temple and the base of the pagoda as well.

The base of the pagoda is made as a base in front of a three-tiered octagonal board, next up is a 3-tiered octagonal base stacked on top of each other, then a bell. spherical High above the bell is an octagonal throne. Continuing with the part, why is the top, which is damaged and the tip is broken?

Inside the pagoda appears the relics It is a circular booth with a width of about 3 meters, presumably to be used as a place to enshrine a Buddha image. Due to the fragments of the Buddha image, stucco and sandstone were found in a number of excavations. Especially the Buddha's tablets were found in large numbers and were in clearer condition than other parts. In addition, the wall of the booth has a triangular shape. The facade is located on the west, north and south sides. Such arches appear to have traces of brick masonry covering them from the beginning. Between the three arches there are 6 smaller triangular niches, which are presumed to be the locations of the lanterns.

The upper part of the relics Make bricks sticking out of the wall. Used as a support for the wooden ceiling, which are stacked in 3 tiers. On the east side of the chedi, there is an entrance door to the relics, about 1 meter wide. There are traces of wooden lintels. At present, all the wood has decayed, but the brick marks are found to form a channel for supporting the aforementioned woodwork. At the door there is a 5 storey staircase, approximately 1.20 meters wide.

Most of the masonry elements of the pagodas are arranged in a short and long form with clay to form a rough shape as the inner form. Then masonry is plastered to add an outer layer and use mortar to decorate the shape. This masonry made the outer and inner brick lines not interlock with each other when the outer bricks that made up the pagoda were damaged. therefore divided into stripes This can be seen from the state of the pagoda before conservation.

2. Temple located on the east side front of the pagoda in a very damaged condition Only the base is left It is a base with a staircase leading up to the east. In addition, evidence has also been found indicating that this temple was built to be connected by overlapping the base of the viharn and the base of the pagoda.

For antiques found in the White Roof Temple area While excavated, most of the Buddha images were made of bronze, sandstone, stucco and clay, which were broken into small pieces. Notice that it is a piece of Buddha image. and the draped Buddha image (Cover over the shoulder) The meditation posture and the Mara Vichai posture sit in the meditation posture. In addition, various types of earthenware fragments were also found. which is in a damaged state, broken into small pieces.

Considering the architectural style of the White Roof Temple as evidenced above It is necessary to study the evolution of the Ayutthaya chedi which found evidence that architectural style, especially the main chedi of that temple In the 22nd Buddhist century, a round chedi was built. But by the end of the 22nd Buddhist century - the 23rd Buddhist century, the pagoda shape has evolved in its form. By making a angular corner and increasing the number of corners. It is also popular to decorate with stucco patterns. elements of the architecture at the pagoda, etc.

When considering the approach to study the evolution of the Ayutthaya chedi above. made it to the conclusion that White roof temple chedi which is an octagonal chedi and inside the hollow is the relics or booths There is an entrance door The shape is similar to the corner chedi. of the main prang of Wat Ratchaburana which was built in the 20th Buddhist century and the chedi at Wat Phra Si Sanphet Which was built during the 20th - 21st Buddhist centuries, and evidence appears at the base of the palace shows that it was rebuilt in the later period, namely the Middle Ayutthaya period.