| WAT THA HOI |
Wat Tha Hoi or the "Monastery of the Landing of the Shellfish" was located off the
City Island, in the southern area at Samphao Lom sub-district. The remains of the
monastery are situated East of Khlong Khu Cham, opposite Wat Tawet.
In situ is an un-restored ruin consisting of a brick mound covered with vegetation.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown, but the monastery
should at least date from King Narai's reign (r. 1656-1688). We find a reference of this
monastery in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya.
Chinese harassment of Burma started from 1648 onward. Ten year later, with the
Chinese still hanging around, agricultural activities slow down and shortage of rice
occurred. Lower Burma became disturbed. In 1661, the Prince of Prome raised an
insurrection, and was crowned as King Maha Pawara Dhamma Raja. In 1662, the
Governor of Martaban (1) ordered a force of 3000 men out of his municipalities, to help
the King of Burma in defending Ava and to expel the Chinese. A large number of Mon
escaped the force and returned to Martaban.
The Governor arrested the Mon who fled back, put them in cages and threatened to
burn them to death. Five thousand Mon advanced on Martaban, burned down the town
and took the Governor in custody. The Talaing insurgents could hold the town for a
while, but realized they would not escape the wrath of the King of Ava. The Talaings
assembled their families and with more than 10.000 people started their flight to Siam in
direction of the Three Pagoda Pass. A front guard advanced to Kanchanaburi in order to
give account of the occurrences to King Narai.
The King sent some thousand Mon troop to meet them and to guide the refugees to
Kanchanaburi. [1] The Mon nobles were received for an audience at the court and
arrangements were made to harbour the families in the vicinity of Samkhok, partly near
Khlong Khu Cham [2] (in the vicinity of the Monastery of the Mud of the Shell Harbor
[3]) and partly in the neighborhood of the Monastery of the Card Slap. A Burmese force
was sent down and reoccupied Martaban.
The references [2] en [3] relate to Wat Tha Hoy (Monastery of the Landing of the
Shellfish) on the east bank of Khlong Khu Cham.
The site is not indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
Footnotes:
(1) Martaban, now called Mottama is located in Thaton district of the Mon State in
Myanmar. Mottama was the first capital of the Hongsawadi Kingdom in the 13th and
14th centuries. The small port of Martaban, located at the mouth of the Thanlwin across
the river from Mawlamyine, was famous for its glazed pottery.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 256 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 258 /
Source: Royal Autograph.
[3] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 257 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
City Island, in the southern area at Samphao Lom sub-district. The remains of the
monastery are situated East of Khlong Khu Cham, opposite Wat Tawet.
In situ is an un-restored ruin consisting of a brick mound covered with vegetation.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown, but the monastery
should at least date from King Narai's reign (r. 1656-1688). We find a reference of this
monastery in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya.
Chinese harassment of Burma started from 1648 onward. Ten year later, with the
Chinese still hanging around, agricultural activities slow down and shortage of rice
occurred. Lower Burma became disturbed. In 1661, the Prince of Prome raised an
insurrection, and was crowned as King Maha Pawara Dhamma Raja. In 1662, the
Governor of Martaban (1) ordered a force of 3000 men out of his municipalities, to help
the King of Burma in defending Ava and to expel the Chinese. A large number of Mon
escaped the force and returned to Martaban.
The Governor arrested the Mon who fled back, put them in cages and threatened to
burn them to death. Five thousand Mon advanced on Martaban, burned down the town
and took the Governor in custody. The Talaing insurgents could hold the town for a
while, but realized they would not escape the wrath of the King of Ava. The Talaings
assembled their families and with more than 10.000 people started their flight to Siam in
direction of the Three Pagoda Pass. A front guard advanced to Kanchanaburi in order to
give account of the occurrences to King Narai.
The King sent some thousand Mon troop to meet them and to guide the refugees to
Kanchanaburi. [1] The Mon nobles were received for an audience at the court and
arrangements were made to harbour the families in the vicinity of Samkhok, partly near
Khlong Khu Cham [2] (in the vicinity of the Monastery of the Mud of the Shell Harbor
[3]) and partly in the neighborhood of the Monastery of the Card Slap. A Burmese force
was sent down and reoccupied Martaban.
The references [2] en [3] relate to Wat Tha Hoy (Monastery of the Landing of the
Shellfish) on the east bank of Khlong Khu Cham.
The site is not indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
Footnotes:
(1) Martaban, now called Mottama is located in Thaton district of the Mon State in
Myanmar. Mottama was the first capital of the Hongsawadi Kingdom in the 13th and
14th centuries. The small port of Martaban, located at the mouth of the Thanlwin across
the river from Mawlamyine, was famous for its glazed pottery.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 256 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 258 /
Source: Royal Autograph.
[3] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 257 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - April 2009 (Reviewed March 2010) |
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