The Principal Prang of Wat Ratchaburana

The Krung Kao chronicle: Luang Prasert Aksonnit's version says that Wat Ratchaburana was founded in 1424 by King Boromrachathirat II (Chao Sam Phraya). However, other royal chronicles such as the Phan Chantanumat (Choem)’s version and the Phra Racha Hatthalekha version indicate the year of construction differently which is 1418 and express further that the temple was built on the cremation site of his two elder brothers, Chao Ei Phraya and Chao Yi Phraya.

The site was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette no. 52, part 75, on 8 March 1935.

The main prang of Wat Ratchaburana was erected on the Phai thi base and oriented toward the East. It was chiefly built with laterite blocks and partially with brick. Plaster was used to cover the exterior texture and embellished with stucco reliefs and motifs. The interior of the prang fuctions as cella or garbhagriha which was accessed by the east imposing portico. The other three porticos are shorter in size. A superstructure of the prang is a multi-tiered roofs decorated with cornered antefixes.

Overall appearance of this prang is distinctively slimmer than its predecessors but is still bulkier than the late Ayutthaya prangs.

1. The main prang of Wat Ratchaburana is still in a very good condition, more importantly its history was officially documented. It is thus one of the finest examples of prang in the early Ayutthaya period.

2. The style and ground plan of the main prang display a strong connection to other early Ayutthaya temples which were traditionally modeled after Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Lopburi. This reflects the art movement in that period which continued to tie closely to Lopburi culture.

4. Testimony of the King from Wat Pradu Songtham (Khamhaikan Khun Luang Wat Pradu Songtham) from the palace library (Ho Luang) describes Prang Wat Phutthaisawan as one of the Great Five Mahathat of Ayutthaya: “The Five Great Chedis of the Capital are the Mahathat of Wat Phra Ram, the Mahathat of Wat Mahathat, the Mahathat of Wat Ratchaburana, the Mahathat of Wat Samorakot and the Mahathat of Wat Phutthaisawan.”

5. The Geography of Ayutthaya (Phumisathan Krung Si Ayutthaya) identifies the Chedi Wat Phukhao Thong as one of Ayutthaya’s Great Chedis in a suburbia group, as followed; “Also, the Great Chedi of Ayutthaya are three Maha Prasats and the Maha That Wat Phra Ram, Wat Na Phra That, Wat Ratchabunna [sic] and the Maha Chedi Wat Suan Luang Sob Sawan, Wat Khun Mueang Chai and the Buddha image of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mongkon Bophit. In the suburbs of a city are the 92-metre Maha Chedi Wat Chao Phaya Thai, the 50-metre Wat Phukhao Thong and the Buddha image of Wat Phanaeng Choeng[sic] rebuilt by King Sampotian on the older statue. A finial of Chedi Wat Chao Phaya Thai Pa Kaew in a form of crystal sphere casts its shadow onto the land of this sub-district outside of the capital city.”

According to the royal chronicles which state that King Boromrachathirat II constructed this prang upon funeral pyres of Chao Ei Phraya and Chao Yi Phraya, this manifests an important court customs practiced by most of Ayutthaya monarchs by which the location of the royal funeral pyre would be built upon with Buddhism temple.

Other temples of the early Ayutthaya period, for example, Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya all of which display a strong connection in their similar style of prang and the layout of the compound.

สันติ เล็กสุขุม. ศิลปะอยุธยา งานช่างหลวงแห่งแผ่นดิน. กรุงเทพฯ : เมืองโบราณ, 2542.

ศิลปากร, กรม. พระราชวังและวัดโบราณในจังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2511.