Part 2: Theoretical Frameworks and Relevant Documents
7. Wat Si Roi
temple and people of Ang Thong always come to pay their respect to this monument. Moreover, The mural inside the new ordination hall also depicts the historic event when King Naresuan the Great and Prince Ekatosarot encamped at this temple before moving on to the batterfield in Suphanburi as a historical evidence.
Furthermore, the mural at the ordination hall of Wat Thasutthawat is connected with the Princess in that it was executed in ordination hall dedicated to the Princess and by the students of arts under the royal patronage, who though poor and with little education or skill, are full of faith and willingness to do their best to become great artist. The mural here is an important sign of the attempt to preserve mural Thai painting and encourage and teach Thai youth to appreciate and conserve Thai art.
Having granted the walls of the new ordination hall of Wat Thasutthawat for fieldwork by students of the Design Section of the Foundation for Handicraft Promotion under the patronage of Queen Sirikit. The Princess visited them on October 15, 1993. It was on this occasion that the talented Princess painted a mango on the mural; this contribution by the “Royal Patron of Thai Cultural Heritage” turned ordinary schoolwork into a remarkable mural.
Nowadays, the temple is the community’s center for worship, community’s meetings, education, cremations and enshrining ashes of the deceased and it is also one of the nine temples in Ang Thong that are well-known for Thai Buddhist pilgrimage.
was a part of Ayutthaya Kingdom. At that time, Khun Rong Palad Chu, a well-known teacher for dual wield swordsmanship and official of Wiset Chai Chan, grouped up and led four hundred sword-fighters under the name “Kong Attamat” to accompany the royal army of Phraya Rattanathibet from the capital.
During the royal army’s settlement at Kui Buri of Prachuap Khiri Khan, his group received a command to obstruct the Burmese army at Wa Khao Bay. The battle began as Kong Attamat attacked the passing rival and went on for a night until noon of the next day. Although many Burmese soldiers were killed in the melee, Kong Attamat could not resist the larger opponent’s army and its supporting armies, and lost their lives in the war. This tragedy discouraged the whole town of Wiset Chai Chan; villagers were too overwhelmed with the lost to do anything. As a sign of moving forward and memorial for the sacrifice of the brave soldiers, Wat Si Roi (literally meaning “four hundreds’ temple) was found in 1760, where later the abbot initiated the construction of stupa to enshrine “the spirits” of 400 Wiset Chai Chan soldiers.
Figure 35 Statue of Khun Rong Palad Chu (Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Nowadays, Wat Siroi is housing “Luang Pho Yai”, a large seated Buddha image in the posture of Polilayaka, in the attitude of leading a jungle life. This Luang Pho Yai is the replica of Luang Pho Palalai in Suphanburi Province. The lap size of this Buddha image is about 6 meters wide and 21 meters high.
Figure 36 Luang Pho Yai
(Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Aesthetic Value
At present, this temple is famous for local Buddhist pilgrimages as the holiness of Luang Pho Yai. According to the temple’s reputation in the holiness of Luang Pho Yai, the result of high renovation within the temple compound as well as building many new buildings for facilitating local Buddhist pilgrimages reduces the temple’s interest and significant architecture.
However, there is only the group of five stupas on pedestal that have not changed much from the renovation.
A group of five stupas on pedestal
A group of five stupas on pedestal is an only one object that is shown aesthetic value.
A stupa of the late Ayutthaya period on a square-base with twelve indented corners stands in front of the ordination hall of Si Roi. It is on the east side of the temple because the ordination hall faces to the east. This stupa illustrates the special characteristic of the late Ayutthaya period that is, its bell-shaped part is smaller and decorated with ornamental stucco. This stupa is believed that it enshrines “the spirits” of 400 Wiset Chai Chan soldiers.
Figure 37 Stupa at Wat Siroi (Panot Asawachai, 2014.)
Social Value
Wat Si Roi is an important temple for Baan Si Roi’s community as it holds an annual festival on the full moon night in the twelfth Thai lunar month. People from all over the province come together at the temple to pray the homage “Luang Pho Yai” for fortune and better life. The worshippers usually provide fireworks or theatre show as to express their appreciation to the sacred image when their wishes become true. Moreover, the temple is the community’s center of the people in the district for worship, community meetings, education, cremations and enshrining ashes of the deceased. It is also one of the nine temples in Ang Thong that are well-known for Thai Buddhist pilgrimage. “Luang Pho Yai” image is also one of the most revered object in Ang Thong,