2 years ago

Wat Phutthaisawan or the Monastery of Buddhist Kingship is located on the south
bank of the Chao Phraya River in an area presently called Samphao Lom (the Capsized Junk sub-district),.

The temple was built in 1353 by King Ramathibodi I at the royal residence of "Wiang Lek", the site where he first settled before establishing Ayutthaya as the capital city in 1350. The temple was constructed after his elder brother (the ruler of Suphan) defeated the Khmers and brought them back under the control of Ayutthaya in 1352. The temple was likely built by the large number of enslaved Khmer inhabitants forcibly removed from Angkor to Ayutthaya at that time. The monastery was one of the first temples constructed and had a preaching hall and a great holy reliquary.

The old temple complex was enclosed by an outer wall measuring 192 meters in length
and 92 meters in width. The vihara has its entry to the east and measures 48 meters in
length and 16 meters in width. The main Khmer-style prang is surrounded by a square
cloister.

The prang, representing the cosmic Mount Meru, is located in the middle of the ancient
compound and is built on an indented pedestal protruding towards the north and south, resulting in a wing-like formation, which was characteristic for prangs of the early
Ayutthaya period.

The statue of King U-Thong

Within the large prang was an image of King Ramathibodi I (King U-Thong). In 1784 AD, in the reign of King Rama I (1782–1809), Prince Thepphonphak went to Ayutthaya to restore the elephant kraal and found the figure. He reported this to the King who decided to move the image to Bangkok. Later the figure was re-casted as a Buddha image, gilded with silver and moved to the Phra Nak Hall. King Rama IV
placed the image at the Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn (the Royal Pantheon - The Shrine of
the celestial Ancestors) in Wat Phra Kaeo at Bangkok. The standing decorated Buddha
located in the side recess of the main prang at present, is a new casting. Local people
believe that the spirit of Ramathibodi I still resides here.

South of the vihara is another smaller vihara with a reclining Buddha. Within the outer
wall there are a number of chedi rai (small votive chedis) and small monastic structures.
The temple has been frequently restored throughout the Ayutthaya period. New
constructions include the chedis in row, some of which were built during the Middle Ayutthaya Period (1488 - 1628).

Outside the boundary wall

The monastic quarters are situated west of the old site. In situ is a two-storey building called the Tamnak Phra Phutthakosajarn Hall (the residential building of Somdet Phra Phutthakosajarn), which served as a model for the Jim Thompson's silk shop in Bangkok. It was constructed together with its mural paintings in the Late Ayutthaya Period (1628 - 1767). The base of the building, curved like the hull of a Chinese junk, is classic for this period. The interior of the hall is highlighted with murals depicting the ten Jatakas (reincarnations of the Budddha - The Pali canonical book of Theravada Buddhism comprises 547 poems concerning the previous births of the Buddha) and the Somdet Phra Phutthakosajarn's pilgrimage to the Footprint of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka. At present most of these paintings are faded.

This area has been regularly part of a war theatre. The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya
mention that the army of the King of Ava, being the right wing of the Hongsawadi Army
investing Ayutthaya in 1549, set up its stockade in this area from Wat Phutthaisawan to the mouth of Khlong Takhian.

This temple has so much history and was a lot of fun to explore.

Enjoy the video!

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