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Prasat Kumpanglang

Keywords : Khmer structure, Prang Sam Yot, Khmer tower, King Jayavarman VII , Bayon, Prasat Kumpanglang, Wat Kumpanglang

Site common nameWat Kumpanglang
Type of artworkArchitecture
VillageNumber 44
Sub districtTha Rap
DistrictMueang Phetchaburi
ProvincePhetchaburi
RegionWest
CountryThailand
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : 13.105571
Long : 99.956362
Geographic Coordinates
UTM		Zone : 47 P
Hemisphere : N
E : 603606.81
N : 1448992.8
Place of artworkInside Wat Kumpanglang

History of production

No evidence related to the establishing history

Production process

Laterite

Conservation

Announcement of registration of archaeological remains in the Government Gazette issue 52, volume 75, page 3692, 7 March 1935.

Art

Prasat Kumpanglang is surrounded by a square laterite wall. It is facing east. Inside the laterite wall is the location of four laterite prasats in Khmer Arts. The 3 prasats in the front were arranged in a north-south line. The principle prasat is taller than the other two. This is similar to Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi.

The fourth prasat is located behind the principle prasat on the east side. Stucco patterns appear on this prasat. In the front there is a gopura or an entrance. Inside the laterite wall on the eastern area appears a pond.

Important artifacts that were found here are the radiant Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the body part of the 4- arm Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the body part of a Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga, and the head of Prachya Paramita.

The use of laterite as the main material for the construction and the layout of the diagram displays the motto of the Buddhistic Triad. The northern prasat is Prachya Paramita, the central prasat is the Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga, and the southern prasat is Avalokiteshvara; the arrrangement of the idols like this is found in Mahayana Buddhism during the 18th century B.E. in the reign of King Jayavarman VII; therefore, the age of the site can be determined to be contemporary with King Jayavarman VII. The Preah Khan Inscription of Cambodia mentioned Mueang “Srichaiya Watcharapura” (Mueang Phetchaburi) that it was one of the six ancient Mueangs in the Central Region where one of 23 Pra Chaiya Buddha Mahanat had been sent from Mueang Phra Nakhon Luang to be enshrined in Mueang Phetchaburi. When compared to the ancient ruins, it can be confirmed that this Prasat Kumpanglang is the prasat mentioned in the inscription. Prasat Preah Khan is a prasat that is contemporary with King Jayavarman VII as well.
Key academic information

This prasat was made of laterite and there are many characteristics that can be compared to chapels built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This seems to be an evidence of the relationship between Phetchaburi province and the political power and culture of King Jayavarman VII. This certifies that Phetchaburi province should be synonymous with the name Mueang Srichai Watcharabura in the Preah Khan Inscription, Cambodia to where King Jayavarman VII had sent the statue of Pra Chaiya Buddha Mahanat.

PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodLopburi, Bayon
Age18th century B.E.
SectMahayana
Religion and beliefMahayana Buddhism
Related artwork

1. Principle Prang at Wat Maha That, Ratchaburi

2. Prang Sam Yod, Lopburi

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2016-06-01
Record creatorRungroj Thamrungraeng
Bibliography

จารึก วิไลแก้ว. วัดกำแพงแลง. กรุงเทพฯ : สำนักพิมพ์เมืองโบราณ, 2534.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ทะเบียนโบราณสถานในเขตหน่วยศิลปากรที่ 2. กรุงเทพฯ : สำนักพิมพ์สมาพันธ์ จำกัด, 2538.

สุนาวิน บูรนสมภพ. ศิลปะเขมรแบบบายนในจังหวัดราชบุรีและจังหวัดเพชรบุรี .สารนิพนธ์หลักสูตรปริญญาศิลปศาสตรบัณฑิต ภาควิชาโบราณคดี คณะโบราณคดี มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2528.