| WAT CHAO PRAB (วัดเจ้าปราบ) |
Wat Chao Prab is situated in Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park, in the southwestern
area of the city island. It can be seen from U-Thong Road, near the mouth of Khlong
Tho (formerly Khlong Chakrai Yai). This canal was once an important route for
accessing the Grand Palace, and it would have been used by kings for transportation.
This monastery's name refers to a royal dressing area for visiting a temple; and the
remains of a Phlabphla or pavilion is still visible in the corner of the site (adjacent to
Khlong Tho). An ubosot is located at this site, and a large bell-shaped chedi is its
primary feature (suggesting the Middle Ayutthaya period). An inner wall surrounds the
ubosot. This wall includes many niches where lanterns or Buddha images could have
been placed. There is also a clear trace of an outer wall that includes entrance gates. A
number of smaller chedi can be seen at this site. Two of these have a dramatic
appearance outside of the inner walls. One is in the late period Khmer-style with many
redentations. A second chedi is nearly completely covered by a Bodhi tree that has
grown over it. Only its general shape and a few bricks can be seen.
The Fine Arts Department has listed Wat Chao Prab as being constructed in the Early
Ayutthaya period, but evidence for this claim is unclear. The area around this monastery
was once used by bodyguards, police, and soldiers. An armory was once located at the
mouth of Khlong Tho near this monastery, but it has since been destroyed due to the
construction of a water gate. The name of this temple is supposedly mentioned in an old
book used by military troops.
area of the city island. It can be seen from U-Thong Road, near the mouth of Khlong
Tho (formerly Khlong Chakrai Yai). This canal was once an important route for
accessing the Grand Palace, and it would have been used by kings for transportation.
This monastery's name refers to a royal dressing area for visiting a temple; and the
remains of a Phlabphla or pavilion is still visible in the corner of the site (adjacent to
Khlong Tho). An ubosot is located at this site, and a large bell-shaped chedi is its
primary feature (suggesting the Middle Ayutthaya period). An inner wall surrounds the
ubosot. This wall includes many niches where lanterns or Buddha images could have
been placed. There is also a clear trace of an outer wall that includes entrance gates. A
number of smaller chedi can be seen at this site. Two of these have a dramatic
appearance outside of the inner walls. One is in the late period Khmer-style with many
redentations. A second chedi is nearly completely covered by a Bodhi tree that has
grown over it. Only its general shape and a few bricks can be seen.
The Fine Arts Department has listed Wat Chao Prab as being constructed in the Early
Ayutthaya period, but evidence for this claim is unclear. The area around this monastery
was once used by bodyguards, police, and soldiers. An armory was once located at the
mouth of Khlong Tho near this monastery, but it has since been destroyed due to the
construction of a water gate. The name of this temple is supposedly mentioned in an old
book used by military troops.
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| Text by Ken May - May 2009 Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg |
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Addendum
Wat Chao Phrab is indicated on a mid-19th century map on the same location as Phraya
Boran Rachathanin does on his 1926 map.
The name of the temple does not refer to a royal dressing area for visiting a temple as
written above. Chao (Jao) Phrab stands for "Lord Conqueror" and the temple's
name can as thus be translated as the "Monastery of the Lord Conqueror". Often temples
were named after their founders. Whether the denomonation refers to the Buddha or a to
member of the royal family at that time, I leave in the middle.
The remains of the pavilion mentioned above are the ones of a storehouse or depository.
Dibuk (ดีบุก) is tin. Phraya Boran Rachathanin mentions คลังดีบุก, which refers as thus
to a depository of tin.
Wat Chao Phrab is indicated on a mid-19th century map on the same location as Phraya
Boran Rachathanin does on his 1926 map.
The name of the temple does not refer to a royal dressing area for visiting a temple as
written above. Chao (Jao) Phrab stands for "Lord Conqueror" and the temple's
name can as thus be translated as the "Monastery of the Lord Conqueror". Often temples
were named after their founders. Whether the denomonation refers to the Buddha or a to
member of the royal family at that time, I leave in the middle.
The remains of the pavilion mentioned above are the ones of a storehouse or depository.
Dibuk (ดีบุก) is tin. Phraya Boran Rachathanin mentions คลังดีบุก, which refers as thus
to a depository of tin.
| Addendum by Tricky Vandenberg - March 2011 |
| (Klang Dibuk or Tin Depository) |
| (Wall with niches surrounding the ubosot) |
| (Wat Chao Phrab from the north) |
| (View of Wat Chao Phrab) |
| (Entrance gate in the outer wall) |
| (Wat Chao Phrab from the east) |