January 18, 2014 Saturday

After a little break, Linda and I met and walked past the Monument to the Three Kings and over to Wat Phra Singh. Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh are the two most important temples to the Thai buddhist people in Chiang Mai. Every day (EVERY day), busloads of Thai tourists from Bangkok or other places go to both temple grounds. I walk around Wat Chedi Luang every day once or twice or more (since it is across the street from 3-Sis and one of my favorite temples) and I almost always see buses loaded with Thai people who came to see Wat Chedi Luang.

Chinese Zodiac and Buddhist Temples

The Chinese zodiac signs are slightly different in Thailand (as they are slightly different in Vietnam). In Thailand, the Year of the Dragon is replaced with the year of the Great Snake (a dragon-looking animal), and the year of the snake is replaced with the year of the small snake (which looks like a cobra). In Northern Thailand, the Year of the Pig is replaced with the Year of the Elephant. (In Vietnam, the Year of the Ox is replaced with the Year of the Water Buffalo, and the Year of the Rabbit is replaced with the Year of the Cat.)

Some temples have a zodiac sign associated with them. It is unclear how this is decided, and why. It might be based on the year they were ordained or started into general use, or perhaps the year designated by the monks. And at the temple, you can see that people leave small objects depicting the sign. At Wat Jet Yod, at the back of the old viharn are many, many small cobra statues (the small snake), which suggests to me that Wat Jet Yod is a Year of the Small Snake temple.

And I did get verification that Wat Jet Yod is a temple associated with the Year of the Small Snake from a visit to the Lanna Folklife Museum (across the street from the Monument to the Three Kings.

I was born in the Year of the Dragon, or in Thailand, the Year of the Great Snake. Wat Phra Singh is a Year of the Great Snake temple. I am told that I ought to have an affinity for Wat Phra Singh. It is a good temple, and I do appreciate it, but I am more drawn to Wat Chedi Luang. Linda and I walked down the street to Wat Phra Singh this afternoon.

Wat Phra Singh – Year of the Great Snake Temple

Wat Phra Singh is a large temple with many structures, several viharn (worship halls), several chedi, and buildings for the monk university and other things. Some of the structures are older, but many appear to be newer or recently restored. There is one older viharn at Wat Phra singh that I do like very much.

The naga bannisters on the staircase are simpler than some, but quite nice and regal. The thewada (angelic beings that live in the heavenly realms, or angels) at the sides of the main door are really beautiful. Typically, thewada are shown in paintings. These as statues are quite different and quite nice.

(I know, I know, I use “beautiful” and “quite nice” a lot. But there are many things that are beautiful here in many ways, and there are many things here that are indeed quite nice.)

This is a longer shot showing the older character of this older viharn. Definitely an older viharn, and it is in daily use.

Near the back of the temple grounds are two chedi. One is clearly under restoration being surrounded by bamboo scaffolding. On the steps of the smaller chedi at the left and right corners are small statues on the Great Snake zodiac symbol. This gives further evidence that this temple really is a Year of the Great Snake temple.

The back entrance of the very large, main viharn displays these very beautiful  Naga on the staircase.

On the walk back from Wat Phra singh to the Tamarind Village (Linda’s hotel), we passed a local market. I noticed 15 different types of rice for sale. And this is just a small, local market catering to the neighborhood people. We typically believe that all Asians eat mostly white rice, but here they do eat a variety – that is evident in the restaurants, some have several from which to choose..

It was a long day exploring a little outside the old city and a little inside the old city. We opted for a quiet dinner at Linda’s hotel, the Tamarind Village.

Next: Doi Suthep (Bhubing Palace Gardens, Wat Prha That Doi Suthep, Wat Palad)