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Mirrored Tree at the backside of Sim Wat Xiang Thong

Keywords : King Chetthathiraj , Wat Xiang Thong

Site common nameWat Xiang Thong
Type of artworkSculpture
Village-
Province/CityLuang Prabang
StateLuang Prabang
CountryLaos
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : 19.8975
Long : 102.143056

History of productionAlthough Wat Xiang Thong was believed to be constructed during the reign of King Xai Xettha, the pavilion of the ordination hall seems to be of the later period. The mirrored mosaic decoration on the wall of the pavilion is even later, datable to the 20th century A.D.
ArtThe mirrored mosaic decoration on the outer wall seems to be very popular during in the Luang Prabang school of art during the 20th century A.D. Lots of pavilions at Wat Xiang Thong bear this kind of decoration. The mirrored mosaic is more durable than the mural and also gives the effect of glittering than the mural. So, this technique becomes very popular during this period.
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodLanchang
Age20th Century A.D.
ReligionBuddhism
SectTheravada
Religion and beliefIn Theravada belief, The tree decorated at the back side of the ordination hall is connectible to either the Bodhi tree of enlightenment or the tree of the heavenly realm. The tree also symbolizes the central axis of the cosmos.

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2015-02-00
Record creatorChedha Tingsanchali