Wat Lok Moli
Encyclopedia
Wat Lok Moli is a Buddhist temple (Thai language:Wat
) in Chiang Mai
, northern Thailand. The temple is situated on the north side of the north moat surrounding the old part of the city, about 400 meters west of the Chang Phuak city gate.
It is not known when the temple was built but it is first mentioned in a charter
in 1367 CE. The sixth king of the Mengrai dynasty, King Kuena (1355-1385), invited ten Buddhist monks from Burma to spread their teachings on Theravada
Buddhism. The monks were housed in this temple.
In 1527, King Ket (also known as Mueangketklao or Phra Kaew Muang) commissioned the chedi
and in 1545, he also had the viharn (assembly hall) built.
The ashes of several members of the Mengrai
dynasty were placed in this temple . Until the demise of their dynasty, the Mengrai royal family took the responsibility for maintaining the temple.
The brickwork of the large chedi is left mostly bare, this in contrast to the, often recently, stuccoed chedis of other temples in Chiang Mai. Of note are the finely sculptured N%C4%81gas and wooden temple façade. The temple is aligned along a north-south axis - most Buddhist temples are orientated towards the East, towards the rising sun.
Wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...
) in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, northern Thailand. The temple is situated on the north side of the north moat surrounding the old part of the city, about 400 meters west of the Chang Phuak city gate.
It is not known when the temple was built but it is first mentioned in a charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
in 1367 CE. The sixth king of the Mengrai dynasty, King Kuena (1355-1385), invited ten Buddhist monks from Burma to spread their teachings on Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism. The monks were housed in this temple.
In 1527, King Ket (also known as Mueangketklao or Phra Kaew Muang) commissioned the chedi
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
and in 1545, he also had the viharn (assembly hall) built.
The ashes of several members of the Mengrai
Mengrai
King Mangrai was the 25th King of Ngoen Yang and the first King of Chiang Mai , capital of the Lanna Kingdom .-Early years:...
dynasty were placed in this temple . Until the demise of their dynasty, the Mengrai royal family took the responsibility for maintaining the temple.
The brickwork of the large chedi is left mostly bare, this in contrast to the, often recently, stuccoed chedis of other temples in Chiang Mai. Of note are the finely sculptured N%C4%81gas and wooden temple façade. The temple is aligned along a north-south axis - most Buddhist temples are orientated towards the East, towards the rising sun.