Buddhism

Buddhist temples in Thailand are located in temple compounds (otherwise known as 'wat') and consists of a number of buildings with different architecture, function and importance. Most temples will be in 'contemporary' or Rattanakosin style, but on the tourist trail and when visiting well reknown wats, you will find different architecture, related to the historical period when the temple compounds were built.

Of course, there is a whole science involved in describing the different cultural, religious and architectural aspects of different temples and Buddha images, which goes behind the scope of this summary. To the layman, the structures inside a temple compound may all look 'similar', but just a little bit of information will allow you to name and localize the different constituent parts. Important structures include : -Bot (Ubosot) or ordination hall -Viharn (wiharn, vihan) or sermon hall -Chedi (stupa, pagoda) with relics of the Buddha -Prang (Khmer or Ayutthays style) -Sala or open-sided pavillion -Mondop -Ho Trai or library -Sima or boundary stone -Naga -Chofa(h) -Kuti or monk quarters The bot or ubosot is the ordinance hall of the Temple, and is where young monastics take their consecrates. In structure it often resembles (for laypersons) the wiharn or preaching hall, but can be distinguished by observing the sacred bounds stones around it. Bts are occasionally only open to the monks. Inside an communion table with numerous Buddha figures. Sema (sima) or bounds stones, 6 in total, around the ubosoth at Wat Bangnanggreng. Sima stones ofttimes come in the form of large stone flicks. The Viharn or preaching Hall is often a rather busy construction at the wat combines. Contrary to the ubosoth it does not have sima stones as a boundary. It holds (equally the bot) usually a major and several littler Buddha figures, and there are believers executing rites at the most times of the day. A Sala is a pavillion structure, open on all sites, where masses can also take a break during temple visits. A chedi (in other civilizations and locatings a similar structure is often titled a stupa or a pagoda) usually is a domed solid structure. Inside or underneath keepsakes of the Buddha or revered Buddhistic teachers are situated. Pangs can be found generally at older temples in Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Lopburi and in the Khmer temples in Isaan province (Phimai, Phanomrung). However this Khmer or Ayutthaya fashion construction can also be found in Krung Thep (Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Phrakaew). It consistent is represented as having the form of a vertical corn ear. A Mondop is a square based structure generally topped with a spire. It is often raised above the libray applying the sacred Buddhist scripts. The Ho Trai is the library of the wat and typically is little and extremely ornamented. The Naga interprets a mystic snake like animate being that according to the Buddhist books protected the Buddha during meditation. The Naga is frequently present at the get-go of a stairs to the temple (like at Wat Doi Suthep, Chang Mai). Khmer art has given us numerous incredible stone sculptured Naga, such as at Phimai and Phanomrung in Eastern Thailand. Chofas are corneous finials on the roof rooftrees of temples, and represent the head of the mystic garuda. They are real distinctive of Thai temples, and add a lot to their general attractiveness. Kuti are the quarters for the monks that domicile in the temple compound. They can come in all figures and shape.

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