Wat Photharam ( th, วัดโพธาราม) is an ancient

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

in Ban Dong Bang, Dong Bang Sub-district, Na Dun District, Maha Sarakham Province,

Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan/ th, อีสาน, ; lo, ອີສານ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pali ''īsānna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provin ...

region (northeastern) of Thailand. The temple dating back to the King

Nangklao Nangklao ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระนั่งเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว, ; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), birth name Thap ( th, ทับ), also styled Rama III, was the third king of Siam u ...

(Rama III)'s reign, more than 200 years ago. It is situated in an old town zone called Ban Dong Bang. Previously, it was called "Wat Pho Thong" (วัดโพธิ์ทอง) and renamed to "Wat Photharam" as today in 1942 by the fourth abbot, Phra Kru Chan Di. The most interesting thing and make this temple known were ''Hup Taem'' (ฮูปแต้ม) and ''Sim'' (สิม). Sim ( main hall in Isan dialect) of the temple features the story of '' Sinxay'', an epic poem of both

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

and

Isan people The Isan people ( th, คนอีสาน, , ; lo, ຄົນອີສານ; my, အီသန် လူမျိုး) or literally Northeastern people are an ethnic group group native to Northeastern Thailand with an estimated population of ...

. It was drawn with a process called Hup Taem (mural painting in Isan dialect). Typically, according to all the ancient temples in the Isan, mural paintings,

Buddha image Buddhist art is visual art produced in the context of Buddhism. It includes depictions of Gautama Buddha and other Buddhas and bodhisattvas, notable Buddhist figures both historical and mythical, narrative scenes from their lives, mandalas, and ...

s, pulpits, and stucco designs of the temples in the Isan in the past are exquisite with the unique Isan art style. This began with the

Lan Xang existed as a unified kingdom from 1353 to 1707. For three and a half centuries, Lan Xang was one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The meaning of the kingdom's name alludes to the power of the kingship and formidable war machine of the ea ...

art then Isan art by

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

and

Annamese The Vietnamese people ( vi, người Việt, lit=Viet people) or Kinh people ( vi, người Kinh) are a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to modern-day Northern Vietnam and Southern China (Jing Islands, Dongxing, Guangxi). The native lang ...

artisans and has continued to the near present, which is a period that the temples in the Isan were generally determined to be built like those in Bangkok. Until today, the patterns of newly constructed temples have changed a lot, and the particular art of each temple has been transferred that has given an unusual perpetual feeling. Wat Photharam is one example that clearly demonstrates this type of indigenous art alongside nearby temple Wat Pa Lelai. The temple is registered as an

ancient monument In British law, an ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument (e.g. an archaeological site) worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. The '' Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 197 ...

by the

Fine Arts Department The Fine Arts Department ( th, กรมศิลปากร, ) is a government department of Thailand, under the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is managing the country's cultural heritage. History The department was originally established ...

References

External links

*{{cite web, url=https://thailandtourismdirectory.go.th/en/info/attraction/detail/itemid/21597, title=Wat Photharam Church, work=ThailandTourismDirectory Tourist attractions in Maha Sarakham province category:19th-century Buddhist temples category:Buddhist temples in Maha Sarakham Province