Chedi (abandoned) Phon Soi Temple

Terrain

General Condition

The (derelict) chedi of Wat Phon Soi is located within the walls and moat of Chiang Mai. in the southern area of ​​the city near Chiang Mai Gate south city gate (The chedi is located 80 meters from the gate to the north). Currently, the area is behind the Chiang Mai Gate Market or Bamrung Buri Kad Mo In Market. Adjacent to Phra Pok Klao Road Soi 2, about 10 meters south from the current location of Wat Phon Soi. Surrounding the chedi is surrounded by dense communities. Some parts of the chedi were built over by the houses of the people. It hasn't been restored.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Ping River

Geological conditions

Geological conditions in the Chiang Mai Basin are very diverse, from complex igneous rocks, volcanic rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks of various ages over 600 million years, to the unsolved sandstone sediments on the central plains of the Recent Basin that are approximately 10,000-20,000 years ago, which included most of the plains that were now farms and dwellings (Saraswati Ongsakul 2000 :2-3)

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Mythological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Chedi (deserted) Wat Phon Soi is located in Chiang Mai city behind Chiang Mai Gate Market, next to Phra Pok Klao Road Soi 2, or about 10 meters south of the current Wat Phon Soi. Currently, it is an abandoned chedi with no evidence that it was built in any period. But it is assumed that it is an old temple that is important before the 21st Buddhist century.

The name of Wat Phon Soi appears in many ancient documents in the Nirat Hariphunchai frame. The legend of Phra That Chom Thong The legend of Bubfaram Temple, Suan Dok Mai The legend of Phra That Don Si Kham (Huai Aor), Long District, Phrae Province, etc., in the Nirat Hariphunchai project. (composed around AD 2060) said that it is a beautiful temple and enshrines a Buddha image. Later, the name of Wat Phon Soi appeared in the legends of various temples in the period 2105-2144 that it was a temple with a senior monk living in the temple, which was based on Wat Phan Tao. From such evidence, it is assumed that Wat Phon Soi existed before the 21st Buddhist century and was likely abandoned during the Burmese expulsion war at the beginning of the Rattanakosin period. Later, a new temple of Phon Soi was built away from the former temple of Phon Soi. to the north about 10 meters

Evidence of ancient sites and antiquities related to the former temple Phon Soi (Area of ​​the abandoned chedi of Wat Phon Soi). Currently, only the chedi remains. The Fine Arts Department had a project to excavate the (abandoned) chedi of Wat Phon Soi in 1999 and strengthen the stability of the chedi in 2002 and 2003. Interesting archaeological evidence was found as follows (Thanathorn Lam Vanich 2003 :1-14)

Jedi It is a Lanna-style chedi made of bricks. The base is 8 x 8 meters wide and the chedi is approximately 8.7 meters high. The architectural style of the base is a lotus base decorated with glass beads, two layers of chicken breasts supporting a tall relic house decorated with amulets on 4 sides. There is a small bell on top. the top collapsed From archaeological excavations at the corner of the base of the pagoda on the south side, it was found that the ground had been adjusted for two periods, with the first level being about 80 centimeters deep from the soil surface level and the second level at 50 centimeters from the ground level. surface level

Building base Found from excavation of the base of the pagoda on the east side, about 1.20 meters from the chedi, looks like a set of lotus bases, assumed to be the viharn of the former Wat Fon Soi. At present, no traces of the temple are visible due to row houses built over it.

Antiques From the excavation, many artifacts were found, such as a bronze Buddha image. Terracotta Buddha sandstone buddha parts Stucco Buddha head, royal tablets, stucco fragments adorning the pagoda and fragments of gold jangko sheets

Relevant local legend :

1. Nirat Haripunchai Project

- Chiang Mai edition

21

The temple was established, the monastery was built
the name was Pinburi. Close like Shin'e
fake, strange, little meat, excellent, wrong person

- Library edition

A temple built into a monastery, one mother
a pinburi name P, a bundle, a bundle
a single one, one nimble
a small body of a snitch
a supreme body

Translation:Along the corridor there is a monastery next to the gate. Phon Soi Monastery name It is a fine jewelry of the city. There is a Buddha image which is reminiscent of Lord Buddha. The image of her was included. More beautiful than others (Prasert Na Nakorn 2003 :101)

2. The legend of Phra That Chomthong, Chiang Mai

"1601 B.E. ...This legend was given to the city of Nanthaburi, Malae, Phra Kun Devophiksu, destined to live in Luang Klang. Chom Thong Kaeo Yanawarapanyophikku A bundle of destiny inherited When he was at Ban Luang Mai for the first time in Chomthong Region, Narangkhattalae (Sanguan Chotirat 1972 :277)

3. The legend of Wat Buppharam Suan Dok Mai

"A.D. 2105, there was an ordination ceremony at Wat Suan Dok Mai. The monks who attended the ceremony "Your Highness Wat Phon Soi" (Sanguan Chotirat 1972 :204)

4. The legend of Phra That Sri Don Kham (Huai Aor), Long District, Phrae Province

"...when Chulachak got 961 of them (2142 B.E.), there was still a great Patriarch at Phon Soi Temple, Nakorn Chiang Mai. At that time, the rice was too expensive. Finding alms for Chao Marod Chae Fa..." (Sanguan Chotirat 1972 :381)

5.List of ancient temples and sects in Chiang Mai

Wat Phon Soi is located in Dao Pratu Chang Mai Subdistrict. in Wiang Chiang Mai The rector's name is Wisdom. Chiang Mai sect Not yet a superintendent Vice Rector named Tu Intha Number of Buddha amulets in this Buddhist Lent:3, 2 before, 9 novices, up to Wat Phan Tao (Phan Tao) (Department of Sociology-Anthropology 1975 :6)