Wat Koo Tao This monastery is
located outside the city walls at the north end of the Provincial
Stadium. The name is curious. It has two meanings. The sound of the
word in the Lao language means “ashes” ( Kee tao ). The word is the
common word used by the town people, not Scriptural word referring to
ashes or relics of the Buddha. Some people understand it to mean
“squash” or “gourd” because the Chedi looks like five gourds ( Nam Tao
) piled one on top of each other.
It is believed to be the reliquary for the ashes of Prince Tarawadi,
son of King Bureng Nong of Burma who conquered Lanna Thai in 1556 and
again in 1578. Tarawadi was made Prince of Chiang Mai by his father in
1579.
The entrance to the Wat has Burmese style lions. Three and a half of
the five graduated spheres are decorated with pottery flowers. There is
a graceful umbrella on top. The square pedestal on which the Chedi
stands has tiered umbrellas-the emblem of rank-at the corners.
The large Viharn has three doors and low hanging decorations
reminiscent of the Burmese style. The front and gable are of
wood-carving on wood, much of it missing. The steps leading to the
porch have a Naga balustrade.
The small Viharn ( or Bot ) was built in 1928. Over the
door is a design of two Nagas with tails twisted together.
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วันอาทิตย์ที่ 3 ตุลาคม พ.ศ 2553 21:48:58
