Siewkang Gate

Assumed built in the reign of King Rama III.

Gold-plated wood carving

The arch consists of two doors. Each set consists of two red rectangular doors, each one gold-plated carved Chinese Thawarabal dress up like Thai Thawarabal and hold the weapons : halberd, sword, dagger and shield on Chinese mixed animals. There are totally four. At first, the black opium was stuck in the mouths of the Thawarabal because people do it for consecrate them. Later, the stain was removed. But it was painted black to show the origin of history. This is a unique feature of the Thawarabal or the Siewkang at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.

The doors of many monasteries in the Ratanakosin period were popular to made in angel images. That’s call “Thawarabal”. It has duty to protects the monastery from evil. The type of Thawarabals are mostly Thai traditional angel that is dress up, hold the sword and stand like a hero in “Khon”.(Thai traditional mask performance in royal court)But, in the reign of King Rama III, the popularity in made of the Thawaraba was shaped like a Chinese soldier, bearded and armed with a Chinese weapon, such as a spear, halberd, sword instead of the original. It’s call “Siewkang”. There is an evidence at Wat Bovornniwet Vihara, Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm. Such popularity may be attributed to the Chinese belief that the Chinese soldiers were made at the gates of the palace and shrines to prevent the evil.

พุทธาวาสวัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร. กรุงเทพฯ : วัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร, 2556.

ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์, มลฤดี สายสิงห์. ศิลปกรรมวัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร.กรุงเทพฯ : วัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร, 2556.