Chamthewi Temple

Terrain

General Condition

The general condition of the area is plains, valleys and mountainous areas. In the west there is a plain that is part of the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Plain. or the plains of the Ping River, the Kuang River, the Li River, and the Tha River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Ping River, Kuang River, Li River, Tha River

Geological conditions

a flat area and have some slope Influenced by the rivers in this area, there is the accumulation of sediment in various streams. There is flooding along the banks of the Ping River and the Kuang River every year, causing large sediments to settle on the riverbanks. making it look like a narrow natural embankment parallel to the river The area is slightly higher than the low plains.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Cham Thewi is an old temple that can determine the age from the evidence of art, antiques, ancient monuments and inscriptions found inside the temple that it is probably a temple that has existed since the 17th Buddhist century in the Haripunchai period. Inside the temple, there are interesting old architectures, namely the “Kukut” square chedi and the octagonal chedi.

For the name of the Chamadevi Temple It is the name in the government temple register. For example, it appears in the history of temples throughout the kingdom, Volume 9 of the Department of Religion, Ministry of Education. It does not clarify how the name came from (Department of Religion, 1990, 731), but it may come from a local legend that believes that the square chedi of the temple houses the relics of Queen Chamadevi. Rulers of Haripunchai during the 13th Buddhist century who were summoned from Lavo City. (Phra Bodhirangsi, 1977, 10-12) Also known as Wat Ku Kuti or Ku Kut (Department of Fine Arts, 1973), probably referred to by the Prasat-shaped chedi that enshrines a Buddha image in the altar. which has the deductible portion Hence, the origin of the villagers' name is Ku Kut, meaning Pagoda Yod Duan.

History of the construction of Wat Chamadevi There is no clear evidence that it was built in any era. Most of them are speculated from the later documents of legend. which is said The son of Empress Chamadevi is King Mahatyot. and Lord Anantayot Please have this temple be built to offer to the Buddha image. Then please build a square chedi with a gold-covered top and call it Suwan Changkoti

... when offering the cremation (Phra Nang Chamadevi) and then a procession of her ashes along the West Wiang (Phra Mahantayot) built a chedi containing the ashes under Wiang Hariphunchai. This pagoda is called Suwanchangkoti (Phra Phuttharakkit-Phra Phuttayanan, 1976, 153)

and appearing in the book Chinkamalai Pakorn Mentioning the Laotian army to fight with King Thittaraj of Haripunchai around 1616, but the Lavo army was defeated. therefore was compelled to build a chedi called "Mahaphon Chedi" of Wat Thung Mahaphon (Sang Monwitun [translator], 2501, 87) as shown in the following text:Sang Monwitun [translator], 1958, 88, 91)

... God Titta... Forgive those captives.

and ordered the captives Build a Maha Phon Pagoda...

It is understood that Wat Thung Maha Phon is Wat Chamadevi (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 29), assuming from the inscription found at the eastern base of Chedi Ku Kut. Age around the middle of the 18th Buddhist century, indicating that the Lord Buddha had the right to create (or restore) a pagoda that collapsed in an earthquake which may be this Kukut Pagoda (Inscriptions in Thailand, Volume 2, 1986, 123-126) There is an important message indicating this chedi that

... a sublime glass that is...

This chedi (Rattana Chedi) which... my name is

I restored the noble glass, namely,

"This chedi at present" (Anuwit Charoensupakul, 1994, 228-229)

The current form of the Kukut Pagoda It should be a work in the reign of King Sawathit (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 29) by a laterite chedi. The castle shape is in a square plan. The elemental houses are stacked in layers. Each floor enshrines a standing Buddha image within the arch, 3 Buddha images on each side, so there are 12 Buddha images on each side. There are 5 levels in total. Therefore, there are 60 Buddha images in total. stupa a top family This allows for continuity and harmony between layer by layer. But the meaning is still unknown at present (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 30). in a rectangular shape It consists of a set of plexiglass-like layers of chicken breasts. and separated the rhythm of the set with a row of lotus petals facing up Which has been suggested that the top of the Ku Kut Chedi is in the shape of a lotus bud. because the amulet was found in Lamphun with an architecture with a lotus bud top which inherited from the architecture in the northeast For example, it appears in Bai Sema, found at Muang Fa Daet Song Yang (Piriya Krairiksh, 1985, 148-147), but the architecture in the print is similar to Sikhra in Burma. While it may be compared to Suwan Chedi. in Wat Phra That Hariphunchai which is a square chedi in the shape of a castle in the same style that still appears at the top (Sakchai Saising, 2004, 9)

For the 60 Buddha images enshrined in the Chakras of the Ku Kut Chedi It may refer to the former Buddha who had already been enlightened in the human world in the past. Or it may refer to the innumerable individual Buddhists (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 30). However, some scholars suggest that it may refer to the 60 arhats that appear in one part of the Buddha's history that the Buddha preached the Benjawakkey. All 5 Phra Yotkulbutr 1 and 54 other companions, totaling 60 Buddha images, which Haripunchai made a difference from the Buddha by making a Buddha image with a beard as shown (Special Chia Chanphong, 1995, 112-115)

For another important thing in Wat Chamadevi is an octagonal pagoda It is a castle-shaped chedi in Haripunchai style. It is a small chedi made of bricks inside Wat Chamadevi. which has not traced much history Nowadays it is confusingly named with the Ku Kut Pagoda. Since there is no definite conclusion that the Rattana Chedi that Phra Chao Sawawasit built or renovated is exactly which one. (Phra Phuttharakkit-Phra Phuttayan, 1976, 180). This chedi is an example of a chedi in the Haripunchai period that has a relatively complete form (Sakchai Saising, 2004, 9). It is a castle-shaped chedi in an octagonal layout. From the base to the roof It consists of 2 cutting bases supporting the lotus base similar to the lotus base of the Dvaravati chedi. Next up is the part of the relic that decorates the arches enshrining Buddha images on all 8 sides. The arch is a Burmese clec pod with a bouquet of flowers at the end of the arch. It is a Dvaravati art style. which is also found in Bagan art (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 37). Above the house of relics is a layer similar to that of a leaning roof. Above is a bell-shaped chedi with an octagonal base pierced into a space decorated with sitting Buddha images on 8 sides to support a round bell-shaped chedi. The top of the pagoda is broken.

This pattern is probably related to some groups of pagodas in Dvaravati art, such as Chedi No. 13 at the ancient city of U Thong. Suphan Buri Province (Sakchai Saising, 2004, 10). In addition, it appears in the latter group of pagodas, including Wat Phra Kaew Muang San. Chainat Province Wat Phra Roop, Suphan Buri Province and possibly continued until the early Ayutthaya period, where the octagonal chedi was popular as well.

The Buddha image inside the chakra may be divided into 2 versions:the first model, the head is made of terracotta, imprinted. His body is stucco. His hands were raised on both sides. saw a wooden axis inside connecting the part of the hand, which may be the posture of dharma teaching on both sides or lifted up like an ocean barrier the second version His head and body were all stucco. But the Phra Rasmi and the Buddha image are terracotta. This model is probably caused by renovations in the later days. It is noteworthy that this model of Buddha image is close to the Buddha image in the facade of Chedi Ku Kut (Dendao Silpanon, 1991, 136).

Buddha images at Ku Kut chedi and the octagonal pagoda Found that it has been renovated many times. It can be seen from the lime plaster painted over the original sculpture dozens of layers. Or mold to repair the damaged and broken parts of both bodies But the octagon chedi has less repairs (Dendao Silpanon, 1991, 135.)

It is assumed that Wat Cham Thewi would have been abandoned for a while until 1936, Chao Chak Khamkhajornsak received an offer from Kruba Sriwichai to help construct a church, a viharn, a cubicle, as well as restore important ancient temple sites. and re-established Wat Chamadevi have a monk Was bestowed Wisung Kham Sima on September 2, 1937, named as Wat Chamadewi until today (Committee for organizing the event in honor of His Majesty the King, 105).

Inscription of Phra Chao Sawathisit 2 (Wat Ku Kut)