Phra Borommathat Chaiya

The date of creation was uncertain. However scholars can speculate its dating from the style which still resembles the candi of Javanese art in the 8th - 10th century AD i.e. a prasat-type chedi topped with a round stupa. Therefore the Phra Borommathat Chaiya should be of the same periods as well. It should be noted that the southern part of Thailand was under the Srivijaya’s political power during those periods.

There has always been a series of restoration; one of key restorations was during the fifth reign of the Rattanakosin period by the reinforcement of the locals supervised by Phraya Chayabhiwat (Nu Tisso). The new Rattanakosin craftsmanship is clearly evident in the stucco motif and the shape of the spire.

Phra Borommathat Chaiya was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette no. 53, on 27 September 1936.

The most recent restorations were conducted 4 times. The first time was in 1929, but the details of restoration were unknown. It is very likely that the restoration aimed to repair the dilapidated parts whereas its original structure was still intact.

The second restoration occurred during Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkram’s premiership in 1957. The project was granted a budget of 500,000 baht. However, the restoration was likely minimum with partially mending and a new paint.

The chedi was restored for the third time in 1967 in order to received King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit during their visit to Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya on the Visakhabucha Day. Minor works such as cleaning and repainting were done on that occasion.

The significance of Phra Borommathat Chaiya as an ancient monument and the national heritage necessitated the Fine Arts Department to arrange the proper restoration during 1978-1979. This final restoration was a cooperation between the Office of Architecture and the Office of Archaeology which was divided into 3 phases.

Phase 1: Restored the galleries by Por. Wor. Chor. Likhit Co., Ltd.

Phase 2: Focused on conserving the whole chedi while preserving the original structure of the monument by Por. Wor. Chor. Likhit Co., Ltd.

Phase 3: Further restored the chedi by applying gold-leaf onto the chedi’s superstructure and stucco motifs over the porch to the cella. However, the latter component was repainted during the second phase that needed thorough scraping before applying gold-leaf. The chedi was then repainted in the most similar colour of the 2nd phase repainting as well as to retain the monument’s reverence. Lastly the new chatra (multi-tiered umbrella) was installed. The Fine Arts Department commissioned Por. Wor. Chor. Likhit Co., Ltd. in September 1979. The final restoration was completed in February 1980.

Phra Borommathat Chaiya is a prasat-type chedi with a round stupa as a spire, its building materials were bricks and mortar. The chedi stands on a square base decorated with pilasters. On the eastern side, there is a staircase leading to the cella of the chedi. The central prasat-type chedi is surrounded by six round stupas with a hexagonal base.

The prasat-type chedi is evidently the most significant feature, it comprises the base, the body and the roof.

The lotus base serves as a foundation of the chedi which features projections echoing those of the body of the chedi. The body which is also square-shape possesses one offset in the middle of each side and projections at the four corners. The middle projections are in the porch-like shape, of all the four projections, only the east one is an entrance to the cella. Whereas the smaller projections at the corners are similar to pilaster. Above the body is the stepped roof sections; composes of two levels with each level surrounded by miniature round stupas. The uppermost part is in an octagonal plan also decorated with miniature round stupa. This section supports an octagonal-shape stupa on a circular lotus base topped with a set of spire, namely a square plinth, a conical shape and a spire, similar to that of a round stupa.

Phra Borommathat Chaiya is not only highly revered by the people of Surat Thani Province and the rest of the Southern Region, but it is also the finest example of Srivijaya architecture. Although its current conditions were the product of restorations in the past, its main structure and styles still resemble the Candis of Javanese art. For instance, its prasat form with a cella (garbhagriha), small stupas decorated at every corners of tiers and a round stupa spire. It is thus plausible that Phra Borommathat Chaiya still retains many of its original features.

Central Javanese monuments (candi), for example Candi Pawon, Candi Mendut, Candi Kalasan, and Candi Sewu

ฉวีงาม มาเจริญ. พระบรมธาตุไชยา. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2525.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ประวัติพระบรมธาตุไชยาราชวรวิหาร จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี และบทความเรื่องอาณาจักรศรีวิชัย. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2520.