Discovering the secret of Ayutthaya architecture design from history.
Sala Ayutthaya｜A design hotel hidden by the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya prefecture
History of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is of big historical and cultural importance. Founded in 1350 it flourished being one of the world’s largest urban areas and center of commerce. It became one of the most prosperous cities in South-East Asia and the capital of Siam. The Burmese army attacked the city in 1767 however and burned it to the ground….so far the city has left us with many imaginations. If we want to explore and unlock its secrets, one of the most important references is its urban architecture.
HISTORical urban DESIGN IN AYUTTHAYA
The Ayutthaya Kingdom was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Indians, Japanese, Koreans, Persians, and later Spaniards, Dutch, English, and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital, this gave it a multicultural and vibrant life, diverse culture and extensive exchanges and trade have not only made the country prosperous, but also brought it numerous treasures. Its historical buildings can be said to be a collection of these treasures.
In this exploration, we will discuss the Ayutthaya architecture design focusing on historical and geographical factors.
-Wat Phanan Choeng, Built-in 1324
-History
Wat Phanan Choeng was Built-in 1324, some 26 years before the city of Ayutthaya was officially founded, the temple must have been partly connected to early settlements in the area. These notably allegedly included a 200-strong refugee community from Song Dynasty China. The temple was visited in 1407 CE by Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim eunuch admiral from Yunnan who leading his second Ming imperial voyage. He bestowed gifts upon the temple in a great ceremony that included Siamese royal participation and is today remembered by Thai-Chinese visitors who still visit the temple in his honor.
Today, as part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, the temple is a popular tourist attraction.
-The large Wihan
The highest building within the temple complex houses an immense glided 19 meter high seated Buddha from 1334 CE. This highly revered Buddha statue is called Luang Pho Tho by Thais, and Sam Pao Kong by Thai-Chinese. The statue is regarded as a guardian for mariners. Allegedly, prior to the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767 CE, "tears flowed from the sacred eyes to the sacred navel". The statue has been restored several times in history. King Mongkut named the statue Phra Putcha Thai Ratana Nayok after its restoration in 1854 CE. At origin, the Buddha image stood in the open.
Today, as part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, the temple is a popular tourist attraction.
-The large Wihan
The highest building within the temple complex houses an immense glided 19 meter high seated Buddha from 1334 CE. This highly revered Buddha statue is called Luang Pho Tho by Thais, and Sam Pao Kong by Thai-Chinese. The statue is regarded as a guardian for mariners. Allegedly, prior to the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767 CE, "tears flowed from the sacred eyes to the sacred navel". The statue has been restored several times in history. King Mongkut named the statue Phra Putcha Thai Ratana Nayok after its restoration in 1854 CE. At origin, the Buddha image stood in the open.
-The element of its structure.
-Temple complex.
-Gilded.
-The phutta wat, the area dedicated to the Buddha.
-Roof Forms.
-Roof Finials.
-Phra Ubosot.
What is Phra Ubosot?
The ubosot is the most important building in the temple. It is the ordination hall and it is where the primary Buddha image of the temple is normally housed. The Ubosot does not have physical contact with the other buildings and is clearly marked off by eight Bai Sema(marker stones named after their similarity to Bodhi leaves). The ubosot is where the ceremonies and rituals for the monks take place and is, therefore, the holiest part of the temple. The reason why I judged Wat Phanan Choeng is a Phra Ubosot is that the entrance to the ubosot will almost always face the east.
(view from the east)
The shrine to the Chinese princess Soi Dok Mak
-In Summary
We can see the profound influence of Buddhism in Thai culture, and we also get another harvest, which is that this temple is also communicated the Chinese culture.
-Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Built-in 1350
-History
Based on the above researching, we can draw a preliminary conclusion about the secrets of Ayutthaya architecture design:
-Secret 1: Chedi
The chedi is a monument that contains a relic or the cremated remains of a monk or member of the royal family. They vary enormously and in Thailand, you will see a huge range of differing styles. Chedis are normally constructed over a relic chamber. They are traditionally made of laterite or brick and covered in stucco. Normally they are covered in gold. Every temple typically has at least one main chedi.
-Secret 2: Wiharn
The wiharn is a shrine hall. It normally houses a Buddha image. Larger temples can have more than one wiharn. The wiharn is where ceremonies for both monks and laypeople are conducted.
-Secret 3: Phra Ubosot
The ubosot is the most important building in the temple. It is the ordination hall and it is where the primary Buddha image of the temple is normally housed. The Ubosot does not have physical contact with the other buildings and is clearly marked off by eight Bai Sema (marker stones named after their similarity to Bodhi leaves). The ubosot is where the ceremonies and rituals for the monks take place and is, therefore, the holiest part of the temple. The entrance to the ubosot will almost always face the east.
-Secret 4: The influence of Buddhism on Thai architecture.
The most common form of Buddhist architecture seen in Thailand is the wat or monastery temple. Although wat architecture has seen many changes in Thailand in the course of history, and there are many differences in layout and style, most monasteries adhere to the same principles. With few exceptions, a Thai temple usually consists of two parts: the phuttawat, the area dedicated to the Buddha, and the sanghawat, the living quarters of the Buddhist monks.
The architectural structures influenced by Buddhism include:
We can see the profound influence of Buddhism in Thai culture, and we also get another harvest, which is that this temple is also communicated the Chinese culture.
-Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Built-in 1350
-History
In 1350 U-thong, also known as King Ramathibodi I, ordered the construction of a royal palace in the same area that Wat Pra Si Sanphet stands today. The palace was completed in 1351 and King Ramathibodi established Ayutthaya as the capital of his kingdom. The palace contained three wooden buildings named "Phaithun Maha Prasat", "Phaichayon Maha Prasat", and "Aisawan Maha Prasat". Upon finalization of the palace in 1351, he established Ayutthaya as his capital and was bestowed the title of King Ramathibodi I. In 1448 King Borommatrailokanat built a new palace to the north and converted the old palace grounds to be a holy site. His son, King Ramathibodi II had two Stupa, which in Thailand are known as Chedis, built-in 1492 where the ashes of his father, King Borommatrailokkanat, and his brother, King Borommaracha III were buried.
(Wat Phra Si Sanphet)
In 1499 a viharn or hall of worship, called “Vihara Luang” (Royal Chapel) was built on the palace grounds. King Ramathibodi II gave orders for a gigantic image of Buddha to be cast and installed in Wat Si Sanphet. This image of Buddha was 16 meters high, covered in gold, and the pedestal was 8 meters in length. The core of the statue was made of bronze and weighed approximately 64 tons. The surface was covered with approximately 343 kilograms of gold. The statue took more than three years to complete. This statue, called “Phra Si Sanphetdayan”, was the main object of veneration within the royal chapel.
In the 1740s under King Borommakot, the temple was renovated. The city of Ayutthaya including the temple compounds were completely destroyed in the Burmese invasion in 1767, with the exception of the three Chedis that can be seen today.
(The three Chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet)
-Use
The Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the temple of the royal family; no monks lived there.The Wat was used exclusively for royal ceremonies.
In 1767, the Burmese conquered the capital of Ayutthaya and began the extensive destruction and looting of numerous temples and other buildings, including the Wat Phra Si Sanphet. They set the building on fire and melted the gold. The three Chedis were destroyed in the process, but restoration work began in 1956.
-Attractions
In its final stage before its destruction of the temple was an impressive structure. Additional facilities were located on a raised platform, the three Chedis, which are today the only buildings which have been restored. From all other, the foundations are still preserved.
The chedi is built in the classic, Ceylonese design that is reminiscent of a bell. In every direction small chapels are recognized, lead to which steep stairs. The roofs of the chapels are in turn topped with a miniature Chedi. Each of the three chedis is on the eastern side assigned a Mondop where possibly footprints Buddhas were.
-The element of its structure.
-chedi
-Gilded.
-The phuttawat, not the sanghawat.
-Royal.
-In summary
As a royal building, it has many traditional Thai architectural elements including chedis, wiharn, Phra Ubosot and is inevitably influenced by Buddhism.Based on the above researching, we can draw a preliminary conclusion about the secrets of Ayutthaya architecture design:
-Secret 1: Chedi
The chedi is a monument that contains a relic or the cremated remains of a monk or member of the royal family. They vary enormously and in Thailand, you will see a huge range of differing styles. Chedis are normally constructed over a relic chamber. They are traditionally made of laterite or brick and covered in stucco. Normally they are covered in gold. Every temple typically has at least one main chedi.
-Secret 2: Wiharn
The wiharn is a shrine hall. It normally houses a Buddha image. Larger temples can have more than one wiharn. The wiharn is where ceremonies for both monks and laypeople are conducted.
-Secret 3: Phra Ubosot
The ubosot is the most important building in the temple. It is the ordination hall and it is where the primary Buddha image of the temple is normally housed. The Ubosot does not have physical contact with the other buildings and is clearly marked off by eight Bai Sema (marker stones named after their similarity to Bodhi leaves). The ubosot is where the ceremonies and rituals for the monks take place and is, therefore, the holiest part of the temple. The entrance to the ubosot will almost always face the east.
-Secret 4: The influence of Buddhism on Thai architecture.
The most common form of Buddhist architecture seen in Thailand is the wat or monastery temple. Although wat architecture has seen many changes in Thailand in the course of history, and there are many differences in layout and style, most monasteries adhere to the same principles. With few exceptions, a Thai temple usually consists of two parts: the phuttawat, the area dedicated to the Buddha, and the sanghawat, the living quarters of the Buddhist monks.
The architectural structures influenced by Buddhism include:
Roof Forms
Multiple roof tiers are an important element of the Thai temple—a technique reserved only for the roofs of temples, palaces, and important public buildings. Temples typically have two or three tiers, although royal temples may have four. The use of multiple roof tiers is more aesthetic than functional. Because temple halls are large, their roof areas are also quite large, and multiple tiers have the effect of lightening the roof’s massive appearance. The lowest tier is the largest, with a smaller middle layer and the smallest tier on top. Individual layers themselves have multiple breaks as well—a double-tiered roof might have two to four breaks in each tier, for example—that further lighten the effect and create dynamic visual rhythms.
Phra Maha Chedi Si Ratchakan at Wat Pho, Bangkok.: Thai Buddhist monasteries, or wats, are known for their elaborate tiered roofs.
Roof Finials
Roofs of Thai temples are typically decorated with finials attached to the bargeboard, the long, thin panel on the edge of the roof at the gable ends. The most common finial is called the lamyong, sculpted in a serpentine shape and resembling the feathers of Garuda, a mythical bird-like creature from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The lamyong is surmounted by a large, curving ornament called the chofah, which represents the beak of Garuda. Temples may also be decorated with sculptures and paintings of other mythical beings from Hindu and Buddhist iconography, including the many-armed gods Vishnu and Shiva, the elephant god Ganesh, the naga or serpent deity, and the ghost-banishing giant Yaksha. A roof with multiple breaks or tiers will have identical finials at the bottom of each section.
Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai: The roofs of wats were commonly decorated with finials of mythical creatures.
https://www.ayutthaya-history.com/Temples_Ruins_PhukhaoThong.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_Kingdom
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/ayuthaya-province/ayuthaya/sights/religious-spiritual/wat-phanan-choeng
https://www.ayutthaya-history.com/Temples_Ruins_PhananChoeng.html
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/thai-art/
https://architectureofbuddhism.com/books/tag/architecture/
images:
https://www.xuehua.us/2018/06/11/%E6%97%85%E8%A1%8C%EF%BC%9F%EF%BC%81%E9%94%99%EF%BC%81%E5%AD%A6%E9%95%BF%E8%BF%99%E6%AC%A1%E5%8E%BB%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E6%98%AF%E6%8B%8D%E7%85%A7%E7%9A%84/
https://medium.com/@arsitag/arsitektur-tradisional-thailand-b09331b40787
https://www.google.com/search?q=Wat+Phanan+Choeng&rlz=1C1CHWL_zh-CNSG836SG836&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXs9__w4vkAhUSbn0KHRX5B-0Q_AUIESgB&biw=1707&bih=803&dpr=1.13#imgrc=4EFYQCLhTpzVfM:
http://bansuan.info/panitikan-ng-thailand/41624/
https://www.actoftraveling.com/2015/12/14/ayutthaya-or-sukothai/
Cool findings on the temples, especially about the roof of the structures. Indeed very interesting it has meanings for each of very buildings. Hanshou, you can look into these findings and see what you can get inspired by. Work out a concept, and we will chat about in the next lesson.
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