Ban Na Kwai Temple

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Ban Na Kwai is a temple that is still in use today. It is located in the northern part of Ubon Ratchathani Province. in the municipality of Ubon Ratchathani The condition of the area is a shallow undulating plain. located far from Lam Mun Noi (Branch of the Mun River) to the northeast, about 3 kilometers away from Huai Wang Nong. (tributary of the Mun River) to the west about 3 kilometers and about 4 kilometers north of the Mun River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mun River, Huai Wang Nong. Lam Mun Noi

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Ban Na Kwai Temple a rat temple Affiliated with Maha Nikaya According to the history of the temple, it was established in 1867 and was granted Wisung Kham Sima in 1877 and 1995, the year of its creation is not clearly stated.

However, local history says that this temple was built not long after the city of Ubon Ratchathani. The villagers came out to look for agricultural land near the water source (swamps and swamps). At that time, there were more than ten houses. when they live together as a village The villagers found a place to build a temple called "Wat Ban Na Kwai" to build a cubicle for monks to live in. The first abbot is Luang Pu Daeng

Later, the second abbot, Pha Achan Tha, or the villagers called Yakutha, persuaded the villagers to build a church or sim with a size of 11 cubits and 1 creep, facing east. The Yakuta are constructors and rely on all the labor from the villagers. All materials for the construction of the base are masonry and mortar. But the mortar used in those days relied on cement ponds in many creeks. Even if the cement is not very white but very good quality Wooden poles are used in the area such as Teng wood, Makhae wood, Red wood, and the roof frame is a wooden tool. Including the shingle, it is made of wood, known as paen mung. It takes 3-4 years to complete the construction and has been used all the time until now.

Important archaeological sites of Wat Ban Na Kwai include Sim (Phanthipha Suwannee 2013 :49-54)

It is located almost in the center of the temple. It is a solid building made of bricks and mortar, with a small size, rectangular plan, 3 rooms, 5.5 meters wide, 9 meters long, facing east. There is only one way up in front. There is a front porch. The front pillars are two round wooden posts supporting the roof structure.

In the front porch is surrounded by a backrest. In the center of the front, there is a space for the ascent and a ladder in front. In front of Sim, a shed was built next to it. (It is found in Isaan vernacular architecture, called gei) It is expected that it was built later to reflect the use that women cannot enter.

Inside the Sim, there is a Chukchi base, a long rectangular platform attached to the back wall. The Buddha image is enshrined on a brick and plaster base.

The base of the base is the base of the bowl or the base of the lotus flower in the Lan Chang style. But it looks simple and stubborn. The bottom base is a 3-tier chopping board base, next up is the base of the inverted lotus. Wooden belly with glass beads Above is a canopy and low with a lotus flower. without a wooden stump and ends with a line supporting the walls Characteristics of all lotus wires flicked at the ends (Phanthipha Suwannee 2013:49-54)

Sim wall on both sides, one window is drilled on each side. The window panes are made of wood. carved floral patterns The back wall is completely solid. The front wall has one entrance door in the middle. The door is made of wood. carved floral patterns From the study history indicates that the inner wall on all 4 sides and the front outer wall have paintings telling the story of the Buddha's life.

The painting on the outer wall appears in the area adjacent to the roof of the porch down to the top half of the Sim's door. Most of the paintings were painted in black and yellow. (found a little green) The condition is partially faded. There are 6 lines of Thai characters written above the door. Including inserted scattered with paintings

Sim roof is a single-storied gable roof. Originally thatched with thatched keys or slats At present, it is covered with clay tiles in the turtle scale style, and the roof is not sloping. Shows the architectural influence from the central region (Phanthipha Suwannee 2013 :49-54)

The wind pad looks like a straight wooden plank. It extends along the gable roof, known as the rich body and is decorated with rooster leaves.

Chofa or Ngo is a carved wood according to the Cho Fah pattern of the central region. but has a more flickering curve at the end It represents a unique Lao art form of delicacy and curvature.

face or gable It is a frame with a wooden pattern. Which is found in most native houses in the Northeast.

lady arm or wand Adorned on both sides of the wall, 5 on each side, is a wooden wand. It looks like a long rectangular plate. The central area is decorated with patterns on the upper and lower cladding. The upper and lower parts are engraved with wire lotuses and lotuses. Making a wooden wand It is a unique identity of Isan folk art that looks quite thick (Phanthipha Suwannee 2013 :49-54)