AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH



WAT BUA (1)





Wat Bua, or the Monastery of the Lotus, was located off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in the Khlong Sra Bua district. The temple was on the west bank of Khlong Sra Bua (1) in Thung Khwan (2).

Wat Bua stood more or less opposite Wat Khruttharam, located on the opposite canal bank. Wat Phraya Maen and Wat Dokmai were in the west, while Wat Si Liam was in the north.

Excavations were performed in 2000-2002 by the Fine Arts Department and various types of pottery for use in daily life, such as roof tiles (rectangular flat tiles, end pointed flat tiles, half-cylindrical tiles, antefix) and sculptures (dolls & animals in various forms) in many sizes were found the latter were used as toys or in ritual ceremonies.

Kilns have been discovered in this area, with a size of 3,5 x 4 metres and an assumed wall of 1 to 1.5 meters high. Mostly tile fragments were found, which presumes it was a kiln used for firing tiles. Considering the large number of potsherds found in this area indicates a different kind of pottery manufacturing. [1]




Excavations at the site of Wat Bua resulted in the discovery of a miniature reproduction of a vihara in baked clay dating from the 15th - the 18th century CE. The model is displayed in the Chao Sam Phraya Museum.


There are no traces anymore visible of the monastery above ground level.


Locals in the vicinity recalled a chedi in situ in earlier times, but except for some scattered bricks, not much was seen above ground level as the site is covered in vegetation.


Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.


Wat Bua shows on 1974, 1993 and 2007 CE Fine Arts Department maps.


Some temple remains were excavated by the Fine Arts Department (FAD) in geographical coordinates: 14° 22' 39.92" N, 100° 33' 25.04" E.


Footnotes:


(1) Khlong Sra Bua, or the Lilly Pond Canal, is a canal situated in the northern area, off the city island, in the Khlong Sra Bua District. The waterway splits from Khlong Hua Ro between Wat Ngiu (defunct) and Wat Si Liam. The canal has its mouth at the City Canal (Khlong Mueang) between Wat Na Phra Men and Wat Mai in front of the northeastern corner of the Grand Palace. The canal was a shortcut in the old Lopburi River.

(2) Thung Khwan, or "Field of Fumes", is an area north of the city of Ayutthaya bordered on the north by Thung Lum Phli, on the east by Khlong Sra Bua and Thung Kaeo, in the south by the old Lopburi River and in the west by Thung Phukhao Thong. This area was likely related to crematory services.





References:


[1] Yukongdi, Pakpadee (2009). Development of ceramics production in Ayutthaya. Silpakorn University.



MAPS



Map 1 - Detail of a 1974 CE Fine Arts Department map. Courtesy Dr Surat Lertlum, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
Map 2 - Detail of a 1993 CE Fine Arts Department map. Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3rd Regional Office of Fine Arts.
Map 3 - Detail of a 2007 CE Fine Arts Department GIS map. Courtesy of the Fine Arts Department 3rd Region.
Map 4 - Google Earth.



When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.
(Alexis de Tocqueville)





HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



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