L23 Sukhothai_Wat Chana Songkhram reflected in the water lily pond - 2, 2002.12.8

L23 Sukhothai_Wat Chana Songkhram reflected in the water lily pond - 2, 2002.12.8

Fujicolor 100 (film developed in the Fuji lab in Bangkok, printed in the Fuji lab in Fuzhou)

Wat Chana Songkhram or "Temple of Victory", stands immediately to the north of Wat Mahathat. This temple of Theravada Buddhism houses a massive, imposing chedi of Sri Lankan designs that was generally considered to be constructed in the 14th century. Among the ruin is a large viharn (assembly hall) in the usual position to the east of the chedi, and two minor chedi of later date.

It is always difficult to ascertain the date of any ancient brick structures since 14C dating technique is of no use to them. Archaeologists might attempt to date the associated organic materials, such as wood or ashes. However, the age of such organic materials are not necessarily identical to the age of the brick structure. In addition, we need to consider the fact that the Kingdom of Sukhothai was already in severe decline by the late 14th century and had become a tributary state of Ayutthaya in the lower Thailand. Furthermore, Sukhothai was no longer the palace site. It is hard to imagine what victory was the king to celebrate by erecting such a chedi in his former capital? Perhaps the victory refers to the war the founding king won against the Khmer and the chedi was erected by the founding king in the 13th century. The recent discovery of the Sung-dynasty (960-1279) porcelain jars from China suggests that this temple could have been around in the 13th century. It is possible that the founding king chose to build his palace near existing significant temples including Wat Chana Songkhram; i.e., the temple sites predetermined the palace site, not the other way around. If my hypothesis is correct, Wat Chana Songkhram and Wat Sa Si would both predate Wat Mahathat.