Saturday, January 26, 2019
Return Visit to Wat Sri Suphan

My friends Liz and Bryan from the Seattle, Washington area were visiting Southeast Asia, and their time in Chiang Mai overlapped my last few days. After they got settled in their accomodation inside the old city, I met them and we walked to the Saturday Night Market along Wua Lai Road near Wat Sri Suphan. We made our way to Wat Sri Suphan as the market was setting up, and then perused the market on our walk back up Wua Lai Road through the market to the old city (and dinner).

Wat Sri Suphan

Wat Sri Suphan is an interesting temple, and an important temple to the Buddhists. Of the approximately 40,000 Buddhist temples in Thailand, Wat Sri Suphan is one of 25 listed as a Royal Temple of the First Class. There are only two Royal Temples of the First Class in Chiang Mai, Wat Sri Suphan and Wat Phra Singh. The famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a Royal Temple of the Second Class, and Wat Suan Dok is a Royal Temple of the Third class. Wat Sri Suphan is a little hidden away, off the main Wua Lai Road that goes southwest from just outside Chiang Mai Gate through the “silver-making district” of Chiang Mai. Wua Lai Road is known as the location of the Saturday Walking Street Market, a smaller, but similar market to the Sunday Night Market inside the old city.  A small lane off Wua Lai Road leads to Wat Sri Suphan, fairly well-marked, but many shoppers miss the signs. This is an old temple site, with a temple here first founded in 1501. Over the centuries, the temple has undergone several renovations and redesigns.

The current reincarnation of Wat Sri Suphan was begun in 2004 under the direction of the abbot (head monk), Phra Kru Phithatsuthikhun. Built over a period of twelve years, the ubosot (ordination hall) was dedicated during the 720th anniversary of Chiang Mai in March-April 2016 and Royal Temple status granted by the king. Described on site as the “World’s First Silver Sanctuary” the ubosot is composed entirely of silver and aluminum. Work on the temple was performed by silver craftsman in the surrounding Wua Lai community who have built up an an impressive knowledge of fine metalwork over many generations. In executing this project, the community has managed something relatively rare in the world today: a modern architectural marvel built entirely by skilled traditional workers from the local community.

Exterior of the Silver Ubosot (ordination hall) at Wat Sri Suphan.

Entrance to the Silver Ubosot at Wat Sri Suphan

And inside the ubosot is more silver and aluminum alloy:

Inside the Silver Ubosot at Wat Sri Suphan

Outside the silver ubosot is this elegant, all-silver Buddha statue:

The back of the silver ubosot showing the detailed hand-hammered relief:

I finished my return visit to Wat Sri Suphan without learning why the viharn (worship hall) and ubosot doors at Wat Sri Suphan open to the north while at almost all Buddhist temples I have visited the doors open to the east to greet the rising sun. I’ll continue trying to find out why this temple and Wat Lok Molee are different; I suspect an answer will not come soon.

Next: Last Day Visit to Wat Suan Dok and Wat Jed Yod