Wat Chiang Man is on Ratchaphakinai Road, Tambon Siphum, Mueang District, Chiang Mai. It was the first temple Phya Mangrai had built at the same time Chiang Mai was founded. It was a temple in the royal palace with the principal chedi that had 16 elephant sculptures surrounding its base.
Since it was a chedi in the palace, all rulers took good care of it. Evidence shows that in 1471, Phrachao Tilokarat added laterite stones to the chedis base and in 1571, Phraya Saen Luang (The ruler during the Burmese reign) covered the original one with another Chedi and buried some offerings of human and things in it.
One significant part of the temple is the murals inside the large vihara, a more modern style painting using the technique of chasing patterns on copper. The mural tells a simple story of the founding of Chiang Mai. The northern vihara has two main Buddha images as follows:
1.Phra Setangkhamani or the white crystal Buddha carved from white stone, which according to a legend, Queen Chamadevi brought from Lop Buri.
2.Phra Sila Chao, a Pala Indian style in the Converting Nalagiri Elephant posture brought in from Sri Lanka by a monk who traveled to study Lankan Buddhism. It is known according to a belief that it can make rain fall. Thus, a procession to worship the Buddha image would be held during drought periods.
The ordination hall at the south is where the Chiang Man stone inscription is kept. It was built in 1581 during the rule of the Burmese. The inscription was about the establishment of the city and the temple.
References
Fine Arts Department. (1996). Chiang Man: Wat Raek Haeng Chiang Mai (Chiang Man: The first temple of Chiang Mai). (in Thai).
Bangkok: The Fine Arts Department.
Penth, Hans, Silao Ketphorm and Aphiradi Thechasiriwan. (2003). Inscriptions in the Chiang Mai Province, part 3 Charuk nai Chang Wat Chiang Mai phak 3 (Inscriptions in the Chiang Mai Province, part 3). (in Thai). Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University Social
Research Institute.
Sanguan Chotsukrat. (1973). Tamnan phuen mueang Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai folk legends). (in Thai). Pranakhon : Historical Publication
Committee, Office of the Prime Minister.
Chiang Mai University Library
Chiang Mai
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