WAT CHUMPHON (3)





Wat Chumphon, or the Monastery of the Concentration of Troops, was located off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya, in Khlong Suan Phlu Sub-district. Wat Phra Non and Wat Kradok were situated east. The three monasteries could be accessed by the canals Khlong Suan Phlu, Khlong Dusit and Khlong Phra Non.


The foundations of the monastic structures were restored, except for the chedi in the west.


Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.


At least three other monasteries off Ayutthaya's city island are called "Chumphon". One site is situated in the northwest in Wat Tum Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 1), a second one in the north in Suan Phrik Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 2) and a third one in the south in Pak Kran Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 4). These monasteries were probably related to warfare and were gathering points for the local male population before going into battle.


A 1974 CE Fine Arts Department map suggests that Wat Chumphon was south of what some historians believe was a Baray (Khmer water reservoir) related to the location of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, which was likely a Khmer sanctuary before. (1)


Some temple remnants were excavated by the Fine Arts Department (FAD) in geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 27.20" N, 100° 35' 15.79" E.





(View of the ruins of Wat Chumphon)



Footnotes:


(1) The area of Ayothya was probably already populated at the end of the Dvaravati era (6th to 11th centuries). There is some evidence that a community settled in this area much earlier than 1351 CE, the date of establishment of the city of Ayutthaya. Sources mention that during the reign of Suryavarman I (1002-1050 CE) of Angkor, the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold here as an appendage of Lopburi, naming it Ayothya after the ancient and one of the holiest Hindu cities of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Phraya Boran Ratchathanin (1871-1936 CE), who was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 to 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya, suggested in 1907 CE that "a pre-Ayudhyan city was situated immediately to the east of the location of Ayudhya," Prince Damrong Rajanubhap (1862-1943 CE), a prominent figure in Thai history known for his significant contributions in various fields including history, decided seven years later that a city called Ayothya "was founded by the Khmer who were ruling at Lopburi". The reason that they concluded that there must have been an earlier town before Ayutthaya was established in 1351 CE was probably the mentioning of its existence in records such as the Chronicles of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the Chronicle of the Sihing Buddha Image, the Chronicle of the North, the Chronicle of Yonok, the Mulasasana and the Jinakalamali. Until today, hardly any archaeological research has been done to determine methodically that a pre-Ayutthaya city was situated immediately east of Ayutthaya.