Thai temple art and architecture

Thai temple art and architecture is the art and architecture of

Buddhist temples in Thailand. Temples are known as wat’s, from the
Pāḷi vāṭa, meaning "enclosure." A temple has an enclosing wall that
divides it from the secular world.

Contents
Architecture
Phutthawat
Sangkhawat
Temple elements
Roof forms
Roof finials
Popular temple icons
Interior of Ubosot of Wat Hong
See also Rattanaram, Bangkok
Depictions of the Buddha
Statues and ornamentation: deities, demons and
mythical beings
Architectural elements
General
Sources
Further reading
External links

Architecture
Wat architecture adheres to consistent principles. A wat, with few exceptions, consists of two parts: the
Phutthawat and the Sangkhawat.

Phutthawat

The Phutthawat (Thai: พุ ทธาวาส) is the area which is dedicated to Buddha. It generally contains several
buildings:

Chedi (Thai: เจดีย ์) – also known as a Stupa it is mostly in the form of a bell-shaped tower, often
accessible and covered with gold leaf, containing a relic chamber.
Prang (Thai: ปรางค์) – the Thai version of Khmer temple towers, mostly in temples from the
Sukhothai and the Ayutthaya period.
 Ubosot or Bot (Thai: อุ โบสถ or Thai: โบสถ์) – the ordination hall and most sacred area of a wat.
Eight Sema stones (Bai Sema, Thai: ใบเสมา) mark the consecrated area.
Wihan (Thai: วิหาร) – a shrine hall that contains the principal Buddha images. It is the assembly
hall where monks and laypeople congregate.
Mondop (Thai: มณฑป) - specific square- or cruciform-based building or shrine, sometimes with
a spired roof. It is a ceremonial form that can be appear on different kinds of buildings. It can
house relics, sacred scriptures or act as a shrine. Unlike the Mandapa of Khmer or Indian
temple, which are part of a larger structure, the Thai Mondop is free-standing.
Ho trai (Thai: หอไตร) – the temple library or scriptures depository houses the sacred Tipiṭaka
scriptures. Sometimes they are built in the form of a Mondop (Thai: พระมณฑป), a cubical-
shaped building where the pyramidal roof is carried by columns.
Sala (Thai: ศาลา) – an open pavilion providing shade and a place to rest.
Sala kan parian (Thai: ศาลาการเปรีย ญ) – a large, open hall where laity can hear sermons or
receive religious education. It literally means "hall, in which monks study for their Parian exam"
and is used for chanting afternoon prayers.
Ho rakhang (Thai: หอระฆัง) – bell tower that is used for waking the monks and to announce the
morning and evening ceremonies.
Phra rabiang (Thai: พระระเบีย ง) – a peristyle sometimes built around the sacred inner area as a
cloister.
Ancillary buildings such as a crematorium or a school.

The buildings are often adorned with elements such as chofas.

In temples of the Rattanakosin era, such as Wat Pho and Wat Ratchabophit, the ubosot can be contained within
a (low) inner wall called a Kamphaeng Kaeo (Thai: กํา แพงแก้ว), which translates to "crystal wall".
Ubosot, Ho Trai and Ubosot of Wat Chedi of Wat Ratcha Prang of Wat Phra
Chedi (from left to Prasitthiwet, Nakhon Phatikaram, Si Rattana
right) of Wat Chiang Nayok Bangkok Mahathat,
Man, built in Lanna Phitsanulok
architecture

Reclining Buddha Mondop of Wat Phra Ho Trai of Wat Sala Kan Parian of
inside Wihan Phra Kaew, Bangkok Apson Sawan, Wat Bang Pla,
Non (Wihan of Bangkok Bangkok
Reclining Buddha)
of Wat Phai Lom,
Chnathaburi

Ho Rakhang of Wat Phra Rabiang Crematoria of Wat Kamphaeng Kaeo

Phra That Chang surrounding Ubosot Phanom Yong, surrounding the
Kham, Nan of Wat Ayuthhaya Ubosot of Wat
Benchamabophit, Ratchabophit,
Bangkok Bangkok

Sangkhawat
The sangkhawat (Thai: สังฆาวาส) contains the monks' living quarters.
It lies within the wall surrounding the temple compound. The
sangkhawat can have the following buildings:

Kuti (Thai: กุฏิ) – originally a small structure, built on stilts,

designed to house a monk, with its proper size defined in
the Sangkhathiset, rule 6, to be 12 by 7 kheup (4.013 by
2.343 meters). Modern kutis take the shape of an
apartment building with small rooms.
The sangkhawat can contain the 'Ho rakhang' (bell tower) Various Kuti buildings of Wat Udom
and even the 'Sala Kan Parian' (sermon hall). Thani, Nakhon Nayok
Houses most of the functional buildings such as the
kitchen.

Temple elements

Roof forms

Temples display multiple roof tiers. The use of ornamented tiers is

reserved for roofs on temples, palaces and important public buildings.
Two or three tiers are most often used, but some royal temples have
four. The practice is more aesthetic than functional. Temple halls and
their roofs are large. To lighten the roof's appearance, the lowest tier is
the largest with a smaller middle layer and the smallest tier on top.
Multiple breaks in each roof lighten it further – a double-tiered roof
might have 2-4 breaks in each tier. The tiers, breaks and tier patterns
create dynamic visual rhythms. In northern temples, the roof area is
larger, sweeping low to cover more of the wall. The lower tiers
telescope toward the entrance. In a central Thai temple, the lower tiers
reach a short distance beyond the top roof at the gable ends.

Roof finials

Most decorations are attached to the bargeboard, the long, thin panel
on the edge of the roof at the gable ends. The decorative structure is
called the lamyong. The lamyong is sculpted in an undulating, Basic Lamyong decorative structure
serpentine nag sadung shape evoking the Nāga. Its blade-like of roof
projection called bai raka suggest both Nāga fins and the feathers of
Garuda. Its lower finial is called a hang hong, which usually takes the
form of a Nāga's head turned up and facing away from the roof. The Nāga head may be styled in flame-like
kranok motifs and may have multiple heads. A roof with multiple breaks or tiers has identical hang hong
finials at the bottom of each section. Perched on the peak of the lamyong is the large curving ornament called a
Chofah, which resembles the beak of a bird, perhaps representing Garuda.

Popular temple icons

Thai Theravada Buddhism and Hindu cultures merged, and Hindu elements were introduced into Thai
iconography. Popular figures include the four-armed figure of Vishnu; the garuda (half man, half bird); the
eight-armed Shiva; elephant-headed Ganesh; the Nāga, which appears as a snake, dragon or cobra; and the
ghost-banishing giant Yaksha.

See also

Depictions of the Buddha

Development of the Buddha image in Thailand
Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand
Characteristics of a Thai Buddha

Statues and ornamentation: deities, demons

and mythical beings
Apsara
Erawan
Ganesh
Garuda
Hanuman
Phra Achana Buddha, Wat Si Chum,
Indra
Sukhothai Historical Park
Kinnara
Kirtimukha
Makara
Nāga
Rama
Ravana
Shiva
Vishnu
Yaksha

Architectural elements
Chofa

General
Buddhism in Thailand
List of Buddhist temples in Thailand
Thai art
Ramakien
Sumeru
Himavanta

Sources
 Discovery Channel by Scott Rutherford, "Insight Guides: Thailand.", APA Publications GmbH &
Co., 2004.
Discovery Channel by Steve Van Beek, "Insight Pocket Guide: Thailand.", APA Publications
GmbH & Co., 2004.
Maria Grazia Casella and Paola Piacco, "Thailand: Nature and Wonders.", Asia Books
Co,.Ltd., 2004.
John Hoskin and Gerald Cubitt, "This is Thailand.", Asia Books Co., Ltd., 2003

Further reading
Karl Döhring, Buddhist Temples of Thailand: an Architectonic Introduction, White Lotus, 2000.
ISBN 974-7534-40-1

External links
Wat Thai: Dhammathai (http://www.dhammathai.org/watthai/watthai_e.php)
Thai Arts: Architecture (https://web.archive.org/web/20061009213715/http://sunsite.au.ac.th/tha
iland/Thai_Arts/archi.html)
Thai Temples (http://www.thaiworldview.com/wat/wat3.htm)
Thai Stories (http://www.speakingthai.com/stories/grand%20palace.htm)
Thai Architecture (http://www.thai-architecture.com/index.html)
Buddhist Art: Architecture Pt.1 (http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/objects/rarebook/r35/na3578_7ก1
พ43.pdf)

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