Video tour of Wat Prasing temple in Chiang Mai Thailand

Wat Pra Singh is located in the center of the city at the intersection of Singharaj and Rajdamnern Road. Wat Phra Singh was founded in the 14th century to enshrine the ashes of King Kam Fu. We will talk about his ashes later.
The first thing you notice is a large Wiharn (prayer hall) with an intricately carved front. The outer walls are decorated painstakingly with incredibly detailed ornaments. Inside the hall at the center alter is the large Buddha statue. The walls of the chapel are covered with murals illustrating Lanna customs, dress, and scenes from daily life. Lanna was once northern Thailand and parts of Laos, Burma and China at that time. To the side are statues of Buddhist monks. Respect is paid to these Elder monks of distinction. Visitors pay respect by placing small squares of gold leaf on the statues which then become completely covered with gold over time. At around 5:30 PM the resident Monks start arriving for the evening meditation.
A typical scripture repository is located at this temple as well. As you face the big wiharn, to your right is the small elaborate ho trai (library) built on a high stone base. The base has many beautiful carvings which have recently been renovated, as have the gilded carvings on the gable ends. These repositories were designed to keep and protect the delicate sa or mullberry paper sheets used by monks and scribes to keep records and write down folklore. The high stucco-covered stone base of the repository protected the delicate scriptures from the rain, floods and pests.
Behind the large Wiharn (prayer hall) is a smaller building that serves as the temple's ordination hall (ubosot). This is where young monks are ordained and other important religious events are held.
Next to the ubosot, in a line with the wiharn, is a large whitewashed 'ku luang'. The large jedee was built in 1345 by King Pha Yu to house the remains of his father King Kam Fu. Appropriately; the site was designated as a 'ku luang' instead of a jedee, as a house with relics of the Buddha is called a jedee.
Next to it is a small but very ornate Wiharn. The lovely Lai Kam chapel houses the revered Phra Singh Buddha image. Sadly, the head was stolen in 1922, and a reproduction is now seen. The decorations inside are brocade-like gold and red pattern on parts of the roof and back wall behind the altar.
Situated at the back of the temple is a meditation area in which short paragraphs of the Buddas teachings are found posted on trees, one per tree. Walking down past each one is an opportunity to reflect on our actions and understand others. There is also a bronze statue of King Mengrai located at the entrance. He constructed Chaing Mai in 1296, with the help and consultation of his King friends. King Ngam Muang ( King of Payao, located north of Chiang Mai ) and King Ram Kamhang (King of Sukothai to the south) . It was then named "Nopaburee Sri Nakorn Ping Chiang Mai".

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• Chiang Mai
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• prasing
• wat
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