History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT KUTI 2 (วัดกุฏิ)

Wat Kuti or the Monastery of the Hermitage of the Monk was located off
Ayutthaya's city island in the southern area in Samphao Lom sub-district. (1) It was
located west of Wat Mai Bang Kraja in Bang Kraja area (Thai Khu Bang Kraja) (2).

In situ we find a brick mound. At the time of visit (August 2009) there were still traces of
broken boundary stones (bai sema) and fragmented pieces of statues visible.

The monastery's historical background and period of construction are unknown.

The site is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. The King of Burma Bhureng
Noung had hardly left Ayutthaya in 1564 when a serious rebellion broke out, led by the
Raja of Patani. The Raja had raised an army, supported by a fleet of two hundred boats,
to fight the Burmese. On arrival via the Chao Phraya River in front of Ayutthaya, the
boats anchored in front of Wat Kuti at Bang Kraja. The Raja realized he arrived too
late and finding Ayutthaya's resistance low, he attempted to seize the throne. The
rebellion however was suppressed.

"At that moment the Phraya Sultan of Tani brought his naval force of two
hundred yayap boats in to assist the government in the war. On arrival they
anchored [BDEF: in front of] [C: at] the Kutbangkaca Monastery. On the next
day they moved in to anchor at the Chai Gate." [2]

The site is not indicated on a mid-19th century map, but is mentioned on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926. Some remains of the temple were excavated by the
Fine Arts Department (FAD) in Geo Coord: 14° 20' 38.88" N, 100° 34' 23.99" E.

On a Fine Arts Department (FAD) map drafted in 1993 [1] this temple was referred to
as Wat Thong Yai. On a FAD 2007 map the temple was re-indicated as Wat Kuti.

Footnotes:

(1) Literally the sub-district of the capsized junk.
(2) Bang (บาง) is a village on a river bank.

References:

[1] FAD 1993 map - courtesy by Khun Supot Prommanot Director of the 3th Regional
Office of Fine Arts.
[2] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya Richard D. Cushman (2006) - page 49 /
Source: Phan Canthanumat, British Museum, Reverend Phonnarat, Phra
Cakkraphatdiphong & Royal Autograph - The Rebellion of Pattani.