Wat Lok Moli

Wat Lok Moli (Thai: วัดโลกโมฬี, sometimes also seen written as Wat Lok Molee) is a Buddhist temple (Thai language:Wat) in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The temple is situated on the north side of the north moat surrounding the old part of the city, about 400 meters west of the Chang Phuak city gate.

The viharn
The large chedi
Finely sculptured nagas

It is not known when the temple was built but it is first mentioned in a charter in 1367 CE. The sixth king of the Mangrai dynasty, King Kuena (1355-1385), invited ten Buddhist monks from Burma to spread their teachings on Theravada Buddhism. The monks were housed in this temple.

In 1527, King Ket (also known as Mueangketklao or Phra Kaew Muang) commissioned the chedi and in 1545, he also had the viharn (assembly hall) built.

The ashes of several members of the Mengrai dynasty were placed in this temple. Until the demise of their dynasty, the Mengrai royal family took the responsibility for maintaining the temple. The ashes of Queen Wisutthithewi are interred in a chedi at the temple.[1]

The brickwork of the large chedi is left mostly bare; this in contrast to the, often recently, stuccoed chedis of other temples in Chiang Mai. Of note are the finely sculptured Nāgas and wooden temple façade. The temple is aligned along a north–south axis – most Buddhist temples are orientated towards the east, towards the rising sun.

References
  1. May 2020, Ben (2020-05-01). "Wat Lok Moli: Ancient Lanna's Best Architecture". Paths Unwritten. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
  • Michael Freeman: Lanna - Thailand's Northern Kingdom. River Books, Bangkok 2001, ISBN 0-500-97602-3
  • 'Wat Lok Moli: Topknot of the World', in: Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, Ancient Chiang Mai Volume 1. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012.
  • 'Lan Na Rebirth: some recently re-established temples', in: Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, Ancient Chiang Mai Volume 3. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B006IN1RNW
  • 'Re-established Temples: Wat Lok Moli', in: Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, Ancient Chiang Mai Volume 4. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B006J541LE

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