| WAT SI FAN (วัดสีฟัน) |
Wat Si Fan or the "Monastery of the Tooth Brushing" was located outside the city
island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in Hua Ro sub-district on the west bank of the
new Lopburi River.
It was situated just south of the ruin of Wat Chumphon. There are no traces remaining of
this monastery at ground level. The site has been completely disturbed by ground
elevation.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown.
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mention that an impostor named Tham Thian,
formerly an attendant of Prince Aphaithot, the brother of King Narai, rebelled again King
Phetracha (R. 1688-1703) and gained a great number of adherents, by giving him out as
the Prince. The pseudo-prince and his army reached Ayutthaya somewhere in the vicinity
of Wat Maha Lok and Wat Monthop. His elephant was struck by one of the eight big
guns of the Maha Chai Fortress. He fell off his elephant and was injured. His followers
panicked and dispersed in disorder. Tham Thian was captured the next morning in the
flower garden of the Monastery of Tooth Brushing and executed. His followers became
reapers of grass for the elephants. [1] [2]
The inhabitants of many districts near Nakhon Nayok, Lopburi and Saraburi, who had
been implicated in the rebellion, fled their homes for fear of punishment, so that part of
the country was almost depopulated. According to Burmese history, these fugitives
settled in Burma. [3]
Some sources put this event in 1690 others in 1696 or 1698.
The monastery is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department (FAD)
maps. The temple was once situated in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 27.50" N, +100° 34'
22.83" E.
Reference:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - (2006) - page 322 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 333 /
Source: Phra Cakkraphatdiphong.
[3] A History of Siam - William A.R. Wood (1924) - page 219.
island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in Hua Ro sub-district on the west bank of the
new Lopburi River.
It was situated just south of the ruin of Wat Chumphon. There are no traces remaining of
this monastery at ground level. The site has been completely disturbed by ground
elevation.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown.
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mention that an impostor named Tham Thian,
formerly an attendant of Prince Aphaithot, the brother of King Narai, rebelled again King
Phetracha (R. 1688-1703) and gained a great number of adherents, by giving him out as
the Prince. The pseudo-prince and his army reached Ayutthaya somewhere in the vicinity
of Wat Maha Lok and Wat Monthop. His elephant was struck by one of the eight big
guns of the Maha Chai Fortress. He fell off his elephant and was injured. His followers
panicked and dispersed in disorder. Tham Thian was captured the next morning in the
flower garden of the Monastery of Tooth Brushing and executed. His followers became
reapers of grass for the elephants. [1] [2]
The inhabitants of many districts near Nakhon Nayok, Lopburi and Saraburi, who had
been implicated in the rebellion, fled their homes for fear of punishment, so that part of
the country was almost depopulated. According to Burmese history, these fugitives
settled in Burma. [3]
Some sources put this event in 1690 others in 1696 or 1698.
The monastery is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department (FAD)
maps. The temple was once situated in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 27.50" N, +100° 34'
22.83" E.
Reference:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - (2006) - page 322 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 333 /
Source: Phra Cakkraphatdiphong.
[3] A History of Siam - William A.R. Wood (1924) - page 219.
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| Text, maps & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2009 Reviewed September 2011 |
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| (View of the location) |
| (Extract of a 1974 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Dr. Surat Lertlum, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) |
| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
