Wat Chedi Sung is on the bank of the Ping River, a transportation route from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. In 1964 the temple was flooded completely due to the Bhumibol Dam construction blocking the Ping at Tambon Yanhi in Tak Province. After the dam was completed, areas above the dam from Tambon Thakham, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai down to the dam itself were flooded and became a large reservoir. Thus, many temples and communities including Wat Chedi Sung were covered with water.
When Somdej Kromphraya Damrongrachanuphab traveled to Chiang Mai in 1921. and made a stop to camp on his return to Bangkok, he explored many temples and chedis along the waterway of the Ping from Chaing Mai to Tak and noted that along the river bank from Chiang Mai to Bangkok were many temples and religious structures, for example, Wat Doi Noi, Wat Phrathat Chom Thong. Other temples found in the old area of Hod District included Wat Phra To and Wat Chedi Sung. Temples in the Kaeng Soi rapids area included Wat Luang, Wat Nok Yung, Wat Ket and Wat Kaeng Soi. He felt that Wat Chedi Sung was the largest temple of all found. Its chedi was approximately 15 wa high with a square base and a seven headed naga stairway up to the Buddha image arches at the four directions. The tip of the chedi was round and seem like it had been renovated many times.
Before the dam construction, the Department of Fine Arts who was responsible for all historical sites of Thailand had sent archeologists to explore and collect the antiques found in the area. Those treasures are now called the treasures from under the Bhumibol Dam. Mr. Krit Inthakosai one of the archeologists who worked there had remarked about the temple of Wat Chedi Sung as follows:
Wat Chedi Sung was an abandoned temple about 100 meters from the old Hod District Office. The Chedi was approximately 30 meters high. The chedi was a prasat shape with a square relic storage sanctuary. All corners were indented to a total of 12 angles. The sanctuary stored a stucco Buddha image in the Subduing Mara posture. The most beautiful part was the stucco work on the arched Buddha image bays molded into two nagas facing each other their tails winding up to the tip of the arch. Above the sanctuary part was formed six-tiers of octagonal lotus base up to the bell tip.
There was no trace of diggings in the area. Rumors among villagers spread that the ghosts here were very fierce. The ghost or protector of the temple called Khruba Kaew often attacked passerby who came to the temple so the villagers suggested the explorers not to climb up the chedi. No one who lived in the area dared to go near it.
It took 16 days for the excavation to be completed because of the fact that it hadnt been dug before. 208 pieces of precious items were found comprising bell jars for storing Buddha images, Buddha image stands, flag poles, strings of flags made of gold and silver, bronze Buddha images, color stone Buddha images, Chinese and Lanna style pottery, vases containing gold and silver flowers, crystal pagodas, golden palm book inscriptions, silver palm book inscriptions etc.
The interesting artifacts found in the chedi were the Chinese china from the Ming Dynasty from around the 21-22 Centuries B.E. Some of them had Chinese characters drawn under them Ta Ming Zda Zding Nian Chi meaning made in the reign of King Zda Zding of the Ming dynasty. This type of pottery is considered of high value because it was used in the palace and among the nobles. The items found were jars, cases, boxes, plates, bowls, some colored with gold, some were lacquered and glazed with gold.
Besides identifying the value of the temple, these artifacts also reveal the relationship between Lanna and China during the 20-21 Centuries B.E.
The Department of Fine Arts has stored and displayed these heritages of the Bhumibol Dam in two museums; the National Museum, Chiang Mai and the National Museum, Phranakhon.
References
Damrong Rajanupab, H.R.H. Prince. (1930). Athibai raya long lamnam Phing (Descriptions of the Phing River route). (in Thai). Phranakhon:
Mahamakutrajawittayalai printing press.
Fine Arts Department. (2515). Sombat sinlapa chak boriwane Khuean Bhumibol (Art Treasures from the Bhumibol Dam area). (in Thai). Bangkok: Thaphrachan.
Natthapatra Chandavij. (1986). Chinese ceramics from the archaeological sites in Thailand. (in Thai). Bangkok: Fine Arts Department.
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