AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH



WAT THA HOI





Wat Tha Hoi, or the Monastery of the Landing of the Shellfish, was located off the city island, in the southern area of Ayutthaya, in the Samphao Lom Sub-district (1). The remains of the monastery are situated east of the Khu Cham (2), opposite Wat Tawet.


In situ is a restored ruin consisting of several brick foundations of walls and monastic structures and some bases of small chedi on the southern side of the premises. The site has been excavated in 2015 CE by the Fine Arts Department 3rd Region. The perimeter is roughly 110 metres wide and 160 metres deep.


Its historical background and construction period are unknown, but the monastery should at least date from King Narai's reign (1656-1688 CE). We find a reference to this monastery in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya.


Chinese harassment of Burma started from 1648 CE onward. Ten years later, with the Chinese still hanging around, agricultural activities slowed down, and a rice shortage occurred. Lower Burma became disturbed. In 1661 CE, the Prince of Prome raised an insurrection and was crowned King Maha Pawara Dhamma Raja. In 1662 CE, the Governor of Martaban (3) ordered a force of 3000 men out of his municipalities to help the King of Burma defend Ava and expel the Chinese. A large number of Mon escaped the force and returned to Martaban. The Governor arrested the Mon who fled back, put them in cages and threatened to burn them to death. Five thousand Mon advanced on Martaban, burned down the town and took the Governor in custody. The Talaing insurgents could hold the town for a while but realised they would not escape the wrath of the King of Ava. The Talaings assembled their families and with more than 10.000 people, started their flight to Siam toward the Three Pagoda Pass. A front guard advanced to Kanburi to give an account of the occurrences to King Narai. The King sent some thousand Mon troops to meet them and to guide the refugees to Kanburi. [1]





(View of the site of Wat Tha Hoi)



The Mon nobles were received for an audience at the court. Arrangements were made to harbour the families in the vicinity of Sam Khok and, partly near the Khu Cham in the area of the Monastery of the Mud of the Shell Harbor. A Burmese force was sent down and reoccupied Martaban.


“The Holy Lord Omnipotent, having learned of the developments, was delighted in His holy heart and thereupon commissioned one thousand former saming and Raman, both masters and retainers, to go forth, meet them and come in with them towards Kancanaburi. Thereupon, arrangements were made for them to live in the Vicinity of Three Knolls and [the Vicinity of] the Monastery of the Mud of Shell Harbor, and for the Raman saming who were masters to enter for an audience and prostrate themselves to render homage. Thereupon the King manifested His holy compassion by being pleased to make them holy royal gifts of seal silver and clothes in great quantities, and by allowing them to live and make their living in their own place in happiness.” [2]


The site is indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE. Phraya Boran (1871-1936 CE) was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 to 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya.


The ruins of Wat Tha Hoi are in geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 16.47" N, 100° 33' 51.76" E.





(View of the site of Wat Tha Hoi)



Footnotes:


(1) Ban Samphao Lom was situated near the Chao Phraya River in the Samphao Lom Sub-district. The village is on the Monthon Krung Kao map (1916 CE). John Bowring (1857, London, John W. Parker and Son, West Strand), in his book ‘The Kingdom and People of Siam’, wrote: "Between the modern and the ancient capital, Bangkok and Ayuthia, is a village called the “Sunken Ship,” the houses being erected round a mast which towers above the surface at low water."

(2) Khu Cham, or the Cham Ditch, is an existent canal situated off the city island in the southern area of Ayutthaya, running through the Samphao Lom and Khlong Takhian sub-districts. The canal splits off from the present Chao Phraya River about 500 meters east of Wat Phutthaisawan and runs south to join Khlong Takhian, nearly at the latter’s confluence with the Chao Phraya River.

(3) Martaban, today called Mottama, is located in Thaton District of the Mon State in Myanmar. Mottama was the first Mon capital of the Hongsawadi Kingdom from 1287 to 1363 CE and was briefly vassal to the Sukhothai Kingdom until the early 14th century. It was a flourishing trade town located at the mouth of the Salween (Thanlwin) River across from Mawlamyine (Moulmain). Martaban had a good harbour for large vessels until the Burmese conquered the town in 1541 CE and sunk several stone-filled ships at the mouth of the river. The small port of Martaban was famous for its glazed pottery (earthenware glazed with lead-oar) and known for its trade in dry fish. [Account of Pegu and the Voyage to Cambodia and Siam in 1718 - Captain Alexander Hamilton.]


References:


[1] Cushman, Richard D. & Wyatt, David K. (2006). The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. Bangkok: The Siam Society. p. 256. [2] Ibid. p. 257.



Selected PICTURES



Pictures taken March 2016 CE



Pictures taken February 2019 CE



MAPS



Map 1 - Detail of Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map 1926 CE. Wat Suwandararam, Ayutthaya.
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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