Wat Ton Kwen | |
---|---|
วัดต้นเกว๋น | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhism |
District | Hang Dong district |
Province | Chiang Mai Province |
Region | Northern Thailand |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Municipality | Chiang Mai |
Country | Thailand |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Kruba In |
Date established | circa 1852 |
Wat Ton Kwen (วัดต้นเกว๋น), also known as Wat Inthrawat (วัดอินทราวาส), is a Buddhist temple in Nong Kwai, Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai. It was originally built as a resting place for the procession of the Phra Borommathat Si Chom Thong relic during the traditional Hae Phra Chao Khao Wiang ceremony. Wat Ton Kwen is renowned for its well-preserved and highly valuable traditional Lanna architecture. It was registered as a historic site in 1983 and was later recognized as an Outstanding Conservation Building by the Association of Siamese Architects in 1989.
History
The temple was first constructed in circa 1852 during the reign of King Kawilorot Suriyawong, the 6th ruler of Chiang Mai. The temple's name originates from the Ton Ba Kwen tree (Muntingia calabura). Later, the temple was renamed after Kruba In, a skilled craftsman who played a significant role in the construction of the viharn (main hall). The viharn was built in 1858 and houses a stucco Buddha image in the Maravijaya posture. The wall behind the principal Buddha image features an arched niche adorned with metal votive tablets. The sala chatummukh (four-portico pavilion), the only one of its kind found in northern Thailand, was constructed around 1856–1869.
The Hae Phra Chao Khao Wiang tradition was an ancient Chiang Mai royal ceremony held annually by the ruler, allowing the townspeople to perform ritual bathing and worship of the Phra Borommathat relic before it was enshrined at Wat Suan Dok and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in succession. In modern times, this ceremony is only held to commemorate significant anniversaries of Chiang Mai’s founding. The most recent procession took place in 2016 to mark the 720th anniversary of Chiang Mai's establishment.
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage declared the vihara of Wat Ton Kwen an outstanding conservation building in 1989.
On September 24, 2020, the temple experienced flooding. However, after the water receded in the evening and a survey was conducted the next morning, it was found to be unaffected.
Further reading
- "Wat Ton Kwen and Wat Hang Dong: Two Hidden Gems of Lan Na Architecture", in Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, Ancient Chiang Mai v 4. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B006J541LE
References
- ^ ""วัดต้นเกว๋น" ต้นแบบอนุรักษ์อาคารสถาปัตยกรรมล้านนา". Thai PBS (in Thai).
- ^ ""วัดต้นเกว๋น" ที่พักขบวนแห่พระบรมธาตุยุคก่อน สู่การคืนชีพในฉาก "กลิ่นกาสะลอง"". Slipa Magazine (in Thai). 17 July 2019.
- ^ a b "วัดต้นเกว๋น พาชมวัดสวยโบราณ สุดยอดของสถาปัตยกรรมล้านนา". TrueID (in Thai).
- ^ "วัดต้นเกว๋น เข้าสู่ภาวะปกติ หลังจากวานนี้เกิดน้ำเอ่อท่วม นักท่องเที่ยวสามารถเข้ามาชมได้ตามปกติ". Chiang Mai News. 25 September 2020.
- ^ "ฝนถล่มเชียงใหม่ ทำน้ำท่วมวัดต้นเกว๋นอายุกว่า 168 ปี หวั่น โบราณสถานเสียหาย". www.thairath.co.th (in Thai). 24 September 2020.