Wat Chang, or the Monastery of the Elephant, is a restored ruin located off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya, in the Hantra Sub-district, south of Wat Maheyong. The monastery probably stood on an old canal bank, but as much of the area has been altered in modern times, this cannot be ascertained. It also looks like the monastic site was surrounded by water, indicating that a ditch was used as a water boundary or Uthok Sema, identical to its purpose in Sri Lanka.
Wat Chang, as its name indicated, was named after the base of the main pagoda encircled by elephant statues (Chedi Chang Lom), a feature that can also be seen at Wat Maheyong. Chedi Chang Lom was a popular architectural style from the Sukhothai era. (1)
The stupa is in a bell shape and stands on a square base. The base has four stairs on each side. A wall with entries to the north, west and south surrounded the chedi. The west wall of the ordination hall penetrated the east side wall. In each of the corners of the square wall around the stupa was a minor chedi, showing thus the layout of a quincunx, representing Mount Meru.
The ordination hall is a rectangular building 20 metres long and 12 metres wide. The main entrance faces east and has two gates similar to the back entrance. A pedestal for a Buddha image sits on the west side of the hall. The building was restored a couple of times.
Archaeologists believe that Wat Chang and Wat Maheyong were established in the early Ayutthaya period, like Wat Thammikarat and Wat Mae Nang Plum, featuring chedis surrounded by lions. Wat Chang and Wat Maheyong were constructed in the same period, as both temples have similar characteristics. It is believed that Wat Chang was established by King Borommatrailokanat (reign 1448-1463 CE) at a time when Sukhothai was being absorbed into Ayutthaya as a vassal state. Wat Chang was established about 10 to 15 years after Wat Maheyong.
Wat Chang was likely restored in the late Ayutthaya period (1629 - 1767 CE), and King Phumintharacha (1709-1733 CE) was one monarch who contributed to the repair work.
The site is in geographical coordinates:
14° 21' 40.4" N, 100° 35' 40.9" E.
Footnotes:
(1) A Chedi Chang Lom can be found at the historical parks of Sukhothai, Sri Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet. The concept of elephants guarding the chedi is based on a belief that the elephant, regarded as a beast of burden for the king, is a suitable animal to uphold Buddhism firmly.
