History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT JAN 1 (วัดจันทร์)

Wat Jan or the Monastery of the Moon (1) was located on the city island in the central
area of Ayutthaya in Pratu Chai sub-district. The temple was situated just south of Wat
Maha That and east of Wat Nok on the edge of the Historical Park.

It is assumed that the temple once stood on the west bank of Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak,
called Khlong Pratu Jin south of the Chikun Bridge onwards, a canal which at present
does not exist anymore. The temple area has been covered by the construction of Chikun
Rd and only a restored brick base of a small chedi stands as a last witness of the past.
The base of the chedi standing on a square platform, is octagonal but redented at the
inter-cardinal directions. The stucco work which once covered the entire chedi still
can be seen.

The site features on a mid-19th century map (2) and on 1974, 1993 and 2007 Fine Arts
Department maps.

Its historical background and period of construction are not known.

The site is located in Geo Coord: 14° 21' 22.72" N, 100° 34' 6.57" E.

Footnotes:

(1) The word "Jan" [transliterated: Chan] could also be translated as "sandal wood",
written commonly in Thai as จันทน์. On many occasions Thai monasteries were called
after (medicinal) trees or flowers. Sandalwood is one of the popular scents used for
incense. As all the Fine Arts Department maps show จันทร์ . I kept the correct
translation, being "moon".
(2) The locations of Wat Nok and Wat Lat are not correctly mapped on the mid-19th
century map in view of the geographical positions seen today. The indicated position of
Wat Jan on the extract is derived from the fact that the temple is positioned opposite Wat
Lat. I have categorized this monastery as a restored ruin, because there exists still some
brickwork, been restored by the Fine Arts Department - 3th Region.