AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH



WAT PHROM NIWAT





Wat Phrom Niwat, or the Monastery of the Abode of Brahma, is an active monastery off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in the Tha Wasukri Sub-district. It is situated on the north bank of Khlong Mueang (1). Wat Phanom Yong and Wat Sala Pun are in its vicinity.


The temple was initially known as Wat Khun Yuan, after a military man named Khun Yuan Yonok, who commissioned its construction in 1564 CE (926 CS). (2)


The temple was reconstructed in the post-Ayutthaya era and restored several times in the last century.


The ordination hall, or ubosot, and chedi stand in a north-south alignment, facing the old Lopburi River and are surrounded by an inner wall.


The ubosot in the late Ayutthaya style (1629-1767 CE) (the base is built in a junk-shaped style) has a two-tiered roof without porches. There are two entries on the south side and one on the north side. The hall has four rectangular windows on the longest sides. Behind the hall stands a twenty-rabbeted-angled chedi surrounded by a low inner wall. To the left and right of the chedi are small roofed structures.





(Wat Phrom Niwat – Picture taken September 2018 CE)



Noh Na Paknam, a prolific writer, art historian, and preservationist, visited Wat Phrom Niwat on 8 November 1966 and recorded the following:
“Wat Phrom Niwat is not much less than Wat Sala Pun. It has been completely renovated. The carved patterns on the wooden panels of the ordination hall's gable are painted green and yellow. It looks like a Chinese opera house, very ugly and repulsive.

The plan of the ordination hall at Wat Phrom Niwat looks strange and unusual. The large pagoda, instead of being located behind the ordination hall as is typical of ancient temples from the Ayutthaya period, is placed in front of it. It is a Lanna-style pagoda set on a low platform, slightly smaller than Wat Sala Pun's.

The ordination hall itself shows signs of being old, with two windows on each side. There are four flat square pillars on each side. The base of the ordination hall is inverted and upright lotus petals, with curved lines like an elephant's belly. The boundary markers are older than those of Wat Sala Pun and carved from fine-grained grey stone, typical of the early Ayutthaya period, unlike those of Wat Sala Pun, which are no different in shape from those of Wat Chai Watthanaram. It is understood that they were from the time of King Prasat Thong, or at most, no older than that. Looking at the shape's order, pattern, and overall form, it is certain that they are boundary markers dating to the time of King Prasat Thong.

When talking about the boundary markers, it makes me think of the main Buddha image in the ordination hall, which is in the style of the one at Wat Na Phra Men. The face is long and slender, similar to the face of the Buddha image in the cloister of Wat Chai Watthanaram. This makes it possible to vaguely see the history of these two temples. That is, Wat Sala Pun must have been built or renovated in the style of a new construction during the time of King Prasat Thong.

The artistic style, with boundary markers and the main Buddha image as focal points, supports this judgment. Wat Na Phra Men is the same it must have undergone a major renovation during the reign of King Prasat Thong, as the main Buddha image is in the style of a large Buddha image. There are traces of multiple layers of plastering, but Wat Na Phra Men is older than Wat Sala Pun because the boundary markers (sema) are large, carved from grey slate, and identical in shape to those at Wat Phra Si Sanphet. This suggests that the temple was established from the early Ayutthaya period onwards.

Evidence is found in the main chapel, which has long ventilation windows similar to those of Wat Phra Si Sanphet and very long, in the early Ayutthaya style. However, the wood carvings on the ceiling and gable are difficult to authenticate and require further investigation, including examining other evidence, to determine whether they were built during the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat or renovated during the reign of King Prasat Thong. Wat Phrom Niwat has nothing of interest except for its simple, somewhat intriguing archway and glass wall. Beyond that, there's not much else to see.” [1]


WAT PHROM NIWAT





Wat Phrom Niwat, or the Monastery of the Abode of Brahma, is an active monastery off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in the Tha Wasukri Sub-district. It is situated on the north bank of Khlong Mueang (1). Wat Phanom Yong and Wat Sala Pun are in its vicinity.


The temple was initially known as Wat Khun Yuan, after a military man named Khun Yuan Yonok, who commissioned its construction in 1564 CE (926 CS). (2)


The temple was reconstructed in the post-Ayutthaya era and restored several times in the last century.


The ordination hall, or ubosot, and chedi stand in a north-south alignment, facing the old Lopburi River and are surrounded by an inner wall.


The ubosot in the late Ayutthaya style (1629-1767 CE) (the base is built in a junk-shaped style) has a two-tiered roof without porches. There are two entries on the south side and one on the north side. The hall has four rectangular windows on the longest sides. Behind the hall stands a twenty-rabbeted-angled chedi surrounded by a low inner wall. To the left and right of the chedi are small roofed structures.





(Wat Phrom Niwat – Picture taken September 2018 CE)
Noh Na Paknam, a prolific writer, art historian, and preservationist, visited Wat Phrom Niwat on 8 November 1966 CE and recorded the following:
“Wat Phrom Niwat is not much less than Wat Sala Pun. It has been completely renovated. The carved patterns on the wooden panels of the ordination hall's gable are painted green and yellow. It looks like a Chinese opera house, very ugly and repulsive.
The plan of the ordination hall at Wat Phrom Niwat looks strange and unusual. The large pagoda, instead of being located behind the ordination hall as is typical of ancient temples from the Ayutthaya period, is placed in front of it. It is a Lanna-style pagoda set on a low platform, slightly smaller than Wat Sala Pun's.
The ordination hall itself shows signs of being old, with two windows on each side. There are four flat square pillars on each side. The base of the ordination hall is inverted and upright lotus petals, with curved lines like an elephant's belly. The boundary markers are older than those of Wat Sala Pun and carved from fine-grained grey stone, typical of the early Ayutthaya period, unlike those of Wat Sala Pun, which are no different in shape from those of Wat Chai Watthanaram. It is understood that they were from the time of King Prasat Thong, or at most, no older than that. Looking at the shape's order, pattern, and overall form, it is certain that they are boundary markers dating to the time of King Prasat Thong.
When talking about the boundary markers, it makes me think of the main Buddha image in the ordination hall, which is in the style of the one at Wat Na Phra Men. The face is long and slender, similar to the face of the Buddha image in the cloister of Wat Chai Watthanaram. This makes it possible to vaguely see the history of these two temples. That is, Wat Sala Pun must have been built or renovated in the style of a new construction during the time of King Prasat Thong.
The artistic style, with boundary markers and the main Buddha image as focal points, supports this judgment. Wat Na Phra Men is the same it must have undergone a major renovation during the reign of King Prasat Thong, as the main Buddha image is in the style of a large Buddha image. There are traces of multiple layers of plastering, but Wat Na Phra Men is older than Wat Sala Pun because the boundary markers (sema) are large, carved from grey slate, and identical in shape to those at Wat Phra Si Sanphet. This suggests that the temple was established from the early Ayutthaya period onwards.
Evidence is found in the main chapel, which has long ventilation windows similar to those of Wat Phra Si Sanphet and very long, in the early Ayutthaya style. However, the wood carvings on the ceiling and gable are difficult to authenticate and require further investigation, including examining other evidence, to determine whether they were built during the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat or renovated during the reign of King Prasat Thong. Wat Phrom Niwat has nothing of interest except for its simple, somewhat intriguing archway and glass wall. Beyond that, there's not much else to see.” [1]




(Wat Phrom Niwat – Picture taken September 2018 CE)



Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.


The site is shown on a 19th-century map as having a chedi and is designated Wat Khun Yuan (วัดขุนญวน).


Phraya Boran Ratchathanin also shows the temple on his 1926 CE map as Wat Khanun Yuan (วัดขนุนญวน). (3)


The temple was renamed in 1971 CE Wat Phrom Niwat by King Rama IX. Wat Phrom Niwat is classified as a third-class Royal temple of the 2nd grade - Worawiharn, following a ranking system for royal temples initiated in 1913 CE. [2]


Near Wat Phrom Niwat, was one of the former seven northern ferries across the old Lopburi River - at present Khlong Mueang or city canal - linking the monastery with the North Landing near the Sat Kop Gate and the Sat Kop Fortress. (4) [4]


In the manuscript “Geographical description of Ayutthaya”, likely compiled in the early Rattanakosin period, it is stated that there was a land market at Wat Khun Yuan in Sala Pun. [4]


Wat Phrom Niwat Worawihan is in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 34.99" N, 100° 32' 53.97" E.


Footnotes:


(1) Khlong Mueang, or the City Canal, is a stretch of the old Lopburi River on the northern side of Ayutthaya's city island. Many people believe it is a man-made canal. The Lopburi River, descending from the north, ran around the city during the Ayutthaya period and joined the Chao Phraya River near Bang Sai (below Bang Pa-In). Khlong Mueang is a remnant from that time. Today, the canal starts at Hua Ro and ends at the confluence with the Chao Phraya River near Hua Laem.

(2) Lan Na, the kingdom founded by King Mangrai in the late thirteenth century, was known as the Yonok country, the home of the Thai Yon or Thai Yuan. The Tai group that migrated to this area (Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Phrae, and Nan) was called Yuan or Yonok and had previously settled in the Golden Triangle, where Burma, Thailand and Laos now meet. Wat Khun Yuan's construction could have been sponsored by a nobleman from the Northern Chiang Mai area, hence its name. (Stratton, Carol & McNair Scott, Miriam. Buddhist sculpture of Northern Thailand. Serindia Publications. p. 3 & 20.)

(3) Phraya Boran Ratchathanin denominates the temple as Khanun Yuan, which could be translated as the "Monastery of the Vietnamese Jackfruit". Khanun Yuan is also the name of a species of fish, Lactarius lactarius, known as the False or Milky Trevally.

(4) During the Ayutthaya period, there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the northern area, the six other crossings were: Tha Ma Ap Nam to Wat Choeng Tha, Tha Sip Bia to Sala Trawen, Tha Phra Kalahom to Wat Pho, Wat Tha Sai to Wat Rong Khong, Wat Song to Wat Pa Khonthi, and Tha Khun Nang to Wat Mae Nang Pluem. [2] See "The Ayutthaya boat and ferry landings".


References:


[1] Uluchada, Prayoon, aka Noh Na Paknam (1984). Five Months in the Midst of Ayutthaya's Brick Rubble. (Hā Dư̄an Klāng Sākʻit Pūn Thī ʻAyutthayā). Bangkok.

[2] Website www.dhammathai.org/watthai/listroyalwat1.php - data retrieved 14 Dec 2009.

[3] Ratchathanin, Phraya Boran. Athibai Phaenthi Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya kap khamwinitjai khong Phraya Boran Racha Thanin. Explanation of the map of the Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Ton Chabab print office. Nonthaburi (2007). p. 92.

[4] Pongsripian, Vinai, Dr. (2007). Phanna phumisathan Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya: Ekasan jak Ho Luang. Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the palace. Bangkok: Usakane.



Selected PICTURES



Pictures taken December 2008 CE



Pictures taken December 2009 CE



Pictures taken July 2011 CE



Pictures taken September 2018 CE



MAPS



Map 1 - Detail of a 19th-century map. Courtesy of the Sam Chao Phraya Museum. Remark: the map is oriented south.
Map 2 - Detail of Phraya Boran Ratchathanin's map, 1926 CE. Wat Suwandararam, Ayutthaya.
Map 3 - Detail of a 2007 CE Fine Arts Department GIS map. Courtesy of the Fine Arts Department 3rd Region.
Map 4 - Google Earth.



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HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



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