Entries about style

Wongburi (or Vongburi) House is a beautiful two-storey teak mansion built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and now open to the public as museum. Phrae royal genealogy has us somewhat confused but, if we’ve understood correctly, the mansion was the home of Luang Phongphibun and his wife Chao Nantha. Nantha was a princess of the Phrae royal family and Phongphibun was a noble who’d made a lot of dosh out of the profitable teak trade.

The spectacular and beautifully preserved residence, set in manicured gardens, is a classic example of turn-of-the-century Northern Thai style. The architecture isn’t classically Thai but shows European influences, as the French, British, Dutch and others were heavily involved in the teak business in northern Thailand during this period. The two-storey, tile-roofed, high-ceiling and wide-balcony style is somewhat reminiscent of colonial buildings you may see, for example, in Burmese hill stations but the intricate wood carving on gables and balustrades harks back to traditional Lanna style. It’s a Thai take on the ‘gingerbread’ form, a late 19th century colonial invention thought to have originated from French mansions in Haiti. Its elaborate, flamboyant features and use of bright colours is said to resemble model houses formerly built by children out of gingerbread dough.

The same goes for the interiors, which are a fusion of Thai and European, since clearly at the time if you wanted to display your wealth and sophistication you integrated the latest foreign elements while demonstrating the obligatory Thainess. These mansions actually can be seen across North Thailand: Chiang Mai, Lampang and Phayao for instance, where European traders and wealthy locals displayed the profits of the lucrative teak trade. Phrae however probably boasts the best stock of all of these colonial fusion buildings.

One special Thai addition to the style are the dungeon-esque basements frequently found in these buildings but these are generally off limits to the public. The ground and first floors are open and display the furniture and contents of the house as it would have been a century ago as well as plenty of photos and family heirlooms. Explanations in English are in short supply but exhibits largely speak for themselves and demonstrate the luxury and wealth of these noble families.

Certain parts of the house — the kitchen and living room for example — show more recent fittings (the residence remains in the family’s hands and was lived in until recently), including an old black and white TV set, which adds to the effect. The interior is fascinating and make sure you do a circuit of the outside of the building, too.

The City Pillar Shrine in Surat Thani, Thailand is a sacred shrine that houses the city’s revered city pillar, which is believed to be the protector of the city and its people. The shrine is located in the heart of the city, near the Tapi River, and is considered an important spiritual and cultural landmark in Surat Thani.

The City Pillar Shrine consists of a central structure, which houses the city pillar, as well as several smaller shrines and prayer halls. Visitors can enter the central shrine to pay their respects to the city pillar and offer prayers and offerings.

The city pillar itself is a wooden post that is believed to embody the spirit of the city and its people. It is decorated with intricate carvings and engravings, and is considered a symbol of the city’s history, culture, and identity.

Throughout the year, the City Pillar Shrine hosts various festivals and ceremonies, including the annual City Pillar Festival, which celebrates the city’s founding and heritage. During these events, the shrine is adorned with colorful decorations and offerings, and visitors can participate in traditional Thai cultural activities, such as music and dance performances, parades, and food fairs.

Overall, the City Pillar Shrine is an important and sacred site in Surat Thani that offers visitors a unique insight into the spiritual and cultural traditions of the city and its people.

During my visit to Surat Thani recently I stopped by one of the most stunning City Pillar shrines I have ever seen.
It is located near the Tapee River which runs alongside the road that separates it from the busy road, and you can get a good look at the suspension bridge from by the gates.

This city pillar is made from wood of the Golden Shower Tree (CasiaFitsula). (it actually looks like white marble). The top of the pillar is carved into a 4-faced Avalo kite. Vara Bodhisattva looking in the 4 directions.

This is a common style of the city pillars around Thailand. On the large hair curls, there is a Buddha image in the attitude of meditation, which is considered as the guardian of the direction, according to Srivijaya’s belief. Moreover, wood carving of this pillar shows delicate floral motifs in Srivijaya style.

A well-kept shrine which is considered by many to be the symbol of the city, the City Pillar Shrine or San Lak Muang is located in the heart of the city. Standing near the Tapee River, this shrine is lit up colourfully at night and is a great spot to spend some time in the city.

Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya stands as the most elaborate example of Srivijaya influence remaining in Thailand today. Built around an eye-catching Javanese-style chedi, the site is thought to have been established when Chaiya was an important regional centre of the Srivijaya kingdom around the eighth century CE. Today the chedi features on the Surat Thani provincial symbol and is mimicked by the provincial capital’s City Pillar shrine.

Many scholars believe that the Srivijaya’s linguistic legacy can still be heard in the Old Malay derived languages spoken in modern Indonesia and Malaysia. Srivijaya subjects also may have been the first to introduce Buddhism to what’s now Thailand and Cambodia, though their Mahayana-dominated form would eventually lose out to Theravada Buddhism from Burma and Sri Lanka. The chedi at Wat Phra Borommathat is one of a handful of ancient Srivijayan monuments that can still be seen in the Chaiya area, with two others found at nearby Wat Kaeo and Wat Long.

First constructed out of brick and vegetable mortar some 1,200 years ago, the chedi was twice restored in the early 20th century. Some alterations were made, including the addition of Thai artistic elements, but the original shape was largely preserved. Those who have explored ancient Javanese temple sites will notice a strong resemblance to the sanctuaries of Prambanan and others. Rising from a square base, its five patterned tiers include shelves, niches and points leading up to a lotus and topped by a slender spire. Buddhist relics are said to be enshrined inside.

Surrounding the chedi on all four sides are ceramic-roofed cloisters filled with Buddha images of various shapes and sizes. Near a Bodhi tree on the other side of the cloisters, a trio of sandstone Ayutthaya-era Buddha images in the Subduing Mara posture sit side by side, exposed to the elements. Local lore claims that these images prefer to be outside, evidenced by a lightning strike on a building they were once placed in.

The temple grounds also include a medium-size ordination hall which, surprising given the importance of the temple, has no murals and only a small collection of typical-looking Buddha images. Stroll to the temple’s northern section and you’ll find a cluster of attractive old wooden buildings that appear to hail from around a century ago.

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Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher

What a truly beautiful situation for a Wat, by the beach! A totally wooden Wat made of Thai Teak, intricately carved window shutters, each panel carved with devotion and great skill.

Information translated from Thai;

Religious place outstanding with the Ubosot, golden teak wood carved with traditional Thai carving patterns, located close to the beach, next to the Andaman Sea.

The full name of this temple is Wat Tesk Thammanawa. It is located in the area under the supervision of the Royal Forest Department. Given permission to be established as Buddhism and Forest Demonstration Center under the supervision of Wat Prachathikaram In the past, the area around the temple was a forest area filled with pine forests and various tropical plants. They are therefore called "Pa Tha Sai" and this place. It used to be a “cemetery” before. due to the past This Tha Sai Forest Local residents and neighborhoods When someone dies, the body will be cremated or buried in this "Tha Sai forest". Which the villagers call it "Ao Rao" or a basin in the cemetery.

Later, Phra Ajarn Winai Rattanawanno, a student of Luang Pu Tesk Tesrangsi, renovated the area and built a teak church at Wat Tha Sai. It is constructed in a Thai style building modeled after Phra Aranyawasee Ubosot, Tha Bo District, Nong Khai Province, to be built with golden teak wood. The church's bouquet is carved by Chiang Mai craftsmen. The outstanding work of Buddhist art is the window panes that have been carved in the most beautiful traditional Thai patterns. When the window is opened, it opens up to the sea. inside teak church with a wall covering with the chairman's altar Enshrined a Buddha image in the posture of preaching, carved from white jade stone, Indian style. His face is full of mercy.

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Credit to: The Sleeping Prophet by Jesse Gallagher