reclining monk

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Thammachak Semaram It is a royal temple under the Maha Nikaya. Built in 1752, located on a mound among the plains. At present, on the mound is the site of Ban Khlong Khwang community. The surrounding plains are agricultural areas. The size of the mound and community is approximately 550 meters wide (east-west line) and 350 meters (north-south line). Located 500 meters from the Sema moat on the southwestern side of the mound. and the temple has Khlong Tum flowing through This Klong Tum flows to Huai Phai, 300 meters (or 400 meters by the distance) to the north of the temple, where Huai Phai eventually flows to Lam Ta Khong.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Khlong Tum, Huai Phai, Lam Ta Khong, Mun River

Geological conditions

The geomorphology of the area is caused by the deposition of sedimentary soils. River pebbles, silt and clay in the Quaternary period. The base rock is sandstone in the Korat group.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Important things in Wat Thammachak Semaram include

The Reclining Buddha (Thanongsak Hanwong 1991; Thawat Punnotok 1999) is a large sandstone reclining Buddha found in Thailand. It was built with several large red sand stones assembled along the north-south line. Sandstone is carved into the shape of a reclining Buddha image. The overall condition is defective. The length of the reclining Buddha image is about 13.3 meters, 2.8 meters high, lying on the right side, with the head facing south. Turning his face to the east

The face consists of 4 sheets of sandstone stacked on top of each other. The face is quite square. Phra Khanong is carved into ridges, convex to each other, forming curly wings. His eyes narrowed. The monk's nose is quite wide. the corner of the mouth pointing up to smile The era curled into a spiral, broken and damaged. The back of the Buddha head is roughly engraved with stirrups. with only the hand that supports the head The head is a round stone. Diameter 90 cm. His body consisted of large sandstone all the same length. (Currently, the veil is covered with the body part) as for the nabhi, it comes down to the broken and damaged ankles, and the two feet are aligned evenly. It is in good condition with a clear image of His Majesty and His Majesty the King. A brick pedestal was built to support the second (back) Buddha image. This art form of the Reclining Buddha was influenced by Dvaravati art mixed with indigenous art. Age around the 15th Buddhist century

Bundit Liuchaichan et al (2010:206-209) said that the motto of creating the reclining Buddha image in this city of Sema Like the Reclining Buddha in Polonnaruwa, that is. (1) Turning his head to the south (2) Build the Reclining Buddha inside a narrow building

The Reclining Buddha Temple (Thanongsak Hanwong 1991; Thawat Punnotok 1999) or Kanthakudi From the excavation of the Fine Arts Department, it was found that originally there was a building enshrining a reclining Buddha image. There is a rectangular plan, made of bricks, width 6.5 meters, length 26 meters, lengthening the Buddha image. The base style consists of a low chopping board base. Next up is a lotus board, a wooden bottom and a lotus face up by the joints of the various parts. It will be bricks in a line or a block as a link. The junction between the facing lotus to the building wall of the lotus base set There is no top board like the traditional Khmer art base set. Therefore, it has a height of only 80 centimeters. It is still only 50 centimeters above the tallest part and has also found a line of brick collapse. There is a sandstone line carved into a scene with a lotus petal pattern on the outside placed on the top of the building wall. Therefore, it is assumed that originally the walls of the surrounding buildings were not higher than 1 meter.

The whole building may be divided into 3 parts:a room enshrining a reclining Buddha image. ceremony room and a courtyard or walkway in front (North side)

The room where the reclining Buddha image is enshrined There is a walkway around the Buddha image about 1 meter wide. At the end of the King's feet is another small room. Such a small room would be a room for worshiping ceremonies. However, it was found that a line of construction of the front courtyard was extended further. This front courtyard straddles a glass wall. and stone lines which should be built more after the building is very damaged until almost can't find the line of the glass wall Around the sanctuary there are 2 levels of parapet, and a small brick structure appears in front of the Buddha image.

The room where the reclining Buddha image is enshrined The room size is suitable for the Buddha image. by leaving a path to walk around the Buddha image for 1 meter.

Ceremony room a small room Located under the King's feet or north next to the room enshrining the reclining Buddha image. There is a stairway leading up to the front or north side. Later, later, an additional stairway was built on the side or the east side. Along with the construction of a courtyard or walkway in front (North side) Increasingly, this front yard can be seen straddling the existing stone parapet and glass wall line, as well as bringing stones and bricks to form a new floor as well. Such a small room would be a room used for ceremonies or worshiping Buddha images. This is evidence that more foundations were being built in later times.

For preparing the soil for the construction of the foundation of the building The soil layer was excavated to compact the red sandstone and sandy limestone as the foundation first. Then bricks are used as the base of the chopping board. Then take out the bricks and compact them into a layer about 10 cm thick all over the area. to enhance the stability of the building including for use as a walkway around the building (Thanongsak Hanwong 1991; Thawat Punnotok 1999)

Currently, the reclining Buddha image is enshrined in the long open hall building covering the Buddha image. corrugated tile roof There are some tiles that are translucent. allowing light to shine into the temple Including installing a ventilation system on the roof as well. Inside there is a wooden walkway around the Buddha image. (except the south side or above the head and leave the passageway in the sandstone parapet) There are offerings and sacred object rental shops of the temple located in front of the Buddha image inside the building. This building was built in 1993 and was completed in 1994.

Dharma Chakra Sandstone or Sema Dhammachak found in front of the reclining Buddha image (According to the villagers in the area) diameter 1.2 meters, wheel hub diameter 31 centimeters, is a solid Dharma Chakra. carved in the form of four wheels The lower part of the Dharma Chakra is engraved on the face of Kan or Phanasbdi. Its artistic appearance is comparable to the Thammachak found in Nakhon Pathom. Probably built at the same time as the Reclining Buddha and Muang Sema (Thanongsak Hanwong 1991; Thawat Punnotok 1999)

Excavations of the Fine Arts Department also found additional evidence of the stag deer and the Sema Thammachak pillar. It may show that originally this piece of Dharma Chakra was located on the top of the pillar. There was a deer crouching in front. and placed in front of the reclining Buddha image (Thanongsak Hanwong 1991; Thawat Punnotok 1999)

At present, this sandstone parapet is enshrined in a glass cabinet in "Sema Thammachak Antiques Exhibition Building" inside Wat Thammachak Semaram This building was built in 1996. The building also exhibits various antiques. obtained from the area (?), such as a sculpture piece Architectural pieces, pillars of Dharma Chakra (with inscriptions), sculpture bases, crushed stone, as well as replicas of Dharma Chakras, etc. In addition, there are many sandstone architectural pieces on display at the front of the building, such as the threshold and Luk Mawat.