This very old monastery. in the center of
Chiang Mai, was begun as a royal pavilion by King San Muang Ma, ninth
in direct line from King Mengrai. It was begun in 1401 the year the
King died.
At that time the Chedi was small. The King’s
widow’s widow, after many vicissitudes-chief among them that of her
son, King sam Feng Ken turning back to animism (raja kuta ) was not
finished until 1438. Possibly the season Kin Sam Feng Ken allowed his
mother to go on building was because some Burmese traders, camping out
near Chiang Mai, said that the ghost of the King Kuna had appeared to
them. The ghost told them to ask King Sam Feng Ken to raise a tower in a
center of Chiang Mai which would be visible four kilometers from the
city. It this was done, King Kuna’s spirit could rest in peace. The
King made the Chedi 86 meters high and 54 meters wide. It was the
largest monument in Chiang Mai.
In 1441 Sam Feng Ken was deposed and his son
Tilokarat, came to the throne. He immediately brought back Buddhism and
began repairing the Wats which had fallen into cecay. The King had a
Minister of Works named Mun Dam Prakot. He was set to Buddhagaya to
bring back plans for religious monuments. From this plan the great
Chedi was enlarged, until it was 90 meters high and 70 meters wide at
the base. The Chedi was constructed of brick and laterite, as can be
seen by a close inspection of it. There are interesting elephant head
decorations. There is a narrow terrace at the point where the circular
Chedi begins to rise. It probably had four vaults each with a huge
Buddha, two of which remain.
Also at Wat Chedi Luang is an immense standing
of walking nine meters tall. It is thought to been cast between 1438
and 1441 by the monk Pra Maha Sumana. He has already constructed four
huge standing Buddhas in Lampoon before coming to Chiang Mai. The Viharn was a triple roof with the gable
showing Erawan, the three-headed elephant, in scroll and foliage. The
Nagas at the entrance have recently been recently been repaired in a
very striking manner. The undulation of the bodies run up the sides of
the entrance and the tails entwine above the door. There are many small
Chedis contraining relics. The Wheel of the Low appears at the
entrance gate.
About 1545 during the regency of Princess
chiraprapa there was an earthquake and a terrific thunderstorm which
caused the Chedi to fall as it is today.
At the bidding of King Tilokarat, his Minister
of Works brought the Emerald Buddha from Lampang to Wat Chedi Luang in
1468. It was resident here, and later in a temple specially built for
it. That temple, which was on the present provincial office grounds,
has since disappeared. In1547, Prince Jetta of Luang Prabang, who spent
two years as Prince of Chiagmai, took the Emerald Buddha with him to
Luang Prabang.
The Lak Muang or Sao Intra kin
At the left of the gate as we enter Wat
Chedi Luang is a small built since 1940, replacing an older wooden
building, which houses the Lak Muang or the tutelary Spirit of the
City. It was established by King Mengrai as the Lak Muang and he called
it Sao Intra Kin. It was built of brick and lime and is over 675 years
old. At first it was at a temple on the grounds of the present
provincial offices. Chao Kawila (1775) moved the Lak Muang to Wat Chedi
Luang and repaired it in 1800. There was a great celebration when the
Spirits were invited to take up residence there. It was held between the
8th and 9th month as that was the mast auspicious time. It is regarded
as guiding the life of the city and guarding its fortunes. Every year
there is a big celebration here.
by : sakuya | post :
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วันอาทิตย์ที่ 7 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ 2553 11:42:53
