Wat Chedi Luang

Terrain

General Condition

The area of ​​Chiang Saen where Wat Chedi Luang is located is a plain, a large plain. There are many rivers flowing through it, so it is hydrated and plentiful. suitable for agriculture Wat Chedi Luang is located in the Chiang Saen city wall. On the west side, away from Chiang Saen Gate (Pasak) about 150 meters, with a territory north to Phaholyothin Road. South to Chiang Saen National Museum East to the village and west to public roads

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mekong River, Ruak River, Kham River

Geological conditions

Characterized by the deposition of sediment, gravel, sand of the Quaternary period. The surrounding geomorphology is granite, popirie and granodiorite. It is a soil of that Phanom series. good drainage Erosion of the soil surface is less likely

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Chedi Luang Chiang Saen It is the largest temple in Chiang Saen. Wat Chedi Luang is currently located in the Chiang Saen National Museum. The layout of Chedi Luang is an octagonal chedi. The base is 9.50 meters wide on each side and about 35.50 meters high. Created by Phra Chao Saen Phu which Phra Chao Saen Phu was the grandson of King Mengrai who came from Muang Ngein Yang to build Chiang Rai and seize Haripunchai City around 1836 (Saeng Monwitun [translator], 1958, 93-94) By King Saen Phu built Chiang Saen around 1871, Chiang Saen has been the residence of the king, alternating with Chiang Mai since then (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 62).

In the meeting of the 61th chronicle, it was said that it was formerly known as Wat Phra Luang. King Saen Phu built a new chedi over the original chedi built by Phaya Siri Asok Thammarat. After another 3 years, His Highness saw that Wat Phra Luang was a temple of Khao Muang. It contained the relics of the Lord Buddha before. Therefore, he had faith to build a royal viharn, width 8 wa, length 17 wa, and a chedi 29 wa high, corresponding to the year 1833 (Department of Fine Arts, 1973, 148-149), which the era may have been inaccurate. because in 1833 King Saen Phu has not yet reigned in Chiang Saen (Sakchai Saising, 2008, 119). It is said that King Saen Phu built the largest chedi in Chiang Saen after he reigned for three years. The chedi measures 28 meters wide and 58 meters high.

Later, this chedi must have been repaired during the Phra Muang Kaew period, which encouraged the craftsmen to dig up the original chedi and build a new one. corresponds to the year 2015 (Saeng Monwitun [translator], 1958, 139-140; Sakchai Saising, 2008, 119)

From the form and evolution of Chedi Luang to be classified as a chedi that has evolved in the latter (Sakchai Saising, 2004, 49) should be classified in the second half of the 21st Buddhist century (Santi Lek Sukhum, 1995, 119). Chedi Luang It is a chedi that is arranged in a group of bell-shaped chedi that support the bell as a set of facing lotus bases in an octagonal plan. But there is a difference from other chedi, both in Lanna art and other forms of art, that is, there is a raised chopping board base to support the base of the lotus-capped lotus with two overlapping lotus-shaped bases. tall wooden belly The decoration of the lotus flower and chicken breast was not clear. May be caused by repairs in later models This part was originally supposed to be two chicken breast crystal balls. The part that is the lotus face up and the board face of the lotus face is unclear. The base of the chopping block up to the support of the bell body is in the octagonal chart. which supports the bell body is a set of 3 lotus bases decorated with wood with 2 chicken breast beads in an octagonal plan And from this part up to the part, why will there be a form like a chedi in a group of bell-shaped chedi that support the bell as a set of inverted lotus bases in this octagonal plan (Sakchai Saising, 25551, 120), that is to say After the set of the lotus-capped lotus base set, there is a crystal ball up to the bell in the round plan. and the throne in the octagonal chart before reaching the segment and elimination.

However, if studying the results of the excavation Chedi Luang was restored in the year. 1957-1958 It was found that after the excavation of the soil layer overlaid at the octagonal base, the bottom chopping board was found adjacent to the base of the corner chedi. It may be that this part of the original base was probably a double-stacked lotus base that was popular around the middle of the 21st Buddhist century (Jirasak Dejwongya, 1996, 37), matching the evidence that Chedi Luang was repaired. The reign of Phra Muang Kaew above

In front of the pagoda is a large viharn. It is a rectangular shape, 17 meters wide, 39 meters long, made of bricks, with round pillars, now only the base remains. The wall behind the Buddha statue and a round pillar in front.

Found a stucco statue at Wat Chedi Luang. It is assumed to be used as an architectural decoration. which has both a stucco image which is a Buddha image and a person wearing a siraporn It may be the head of the angel (Busaba Chaiseno, 46), so originally there was probably a stucco sculpture to decorate this royal chedi.