thumb|200px|Golden Stupa, gilded carved wood above main door

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Wat Xieng Thong (, ; "Temple of the Golden City") is a Buddhist temple (vat or wat) on the northern tip of the peninsula of Luang Prabang, Laos. Built between 1559 and 1560 by King Setthathirath, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art.

Etymology

The name Vat Xieng Thong (Lao: ວັດຊຽງທອງ), means "Temple of the Golden City." In Lao, wat, or vat, means Buddhist temple; these buildings are central to the life of Laotian communities.

History

Wat Xieng Thong was built under the rule of King Setthathirath between 1559 and 1560. Setthathirath oversaw the Lan Xang ("Land of a Million Elephants") kingdom, a geographical area that is now Laos. But, Luang Prabang remained a royal capital until 1975, when the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) was established. Luang Prabang was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The rear gable is decorated with a glass mosaic depicting the tree of life. Behind the Sim is the Sanctuary of the Reclining Buddha, a small chapel decorated with mosaics and featuring a large Buddhist statue.

Many other structures fill the compound and complement the Sim, including the Kouti, Ho Tai, and Hor Kong, the library, monk living space, and boat house, respectively.

In 1928, when the French Governor General visited Luang Prabang, King Sisavangvong successfully demanded that the French share in the cost of restoration, as Laos was a French protectorate from 1893 to 1953. In the 1950s and 1960s, the funerary carriage house was built. Renovations in 2012 and 2013 involved carefully cleaning the building, repainting the gold stencils, restoring damaged tiles and doors and windows, and repainting walls.

In January 2024, the entrance fee to the temple was 20,000 kip.

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File:20191212 Wat Xieng Thong temple-1.jpg|Wat Xieng Thong Sim

File:Wat Xieng Thong Laos II.jpg|Funeral chapel

File:Wat Xieng Thong golden wall.jpg|Golden outer wall of Wat Xieng Thong

File:20191212 Wat Xieng Thong Buddhist statue-1.jpg|The inside of Wat Xieng Thong

File:20191212 Wat Xieng Thong Buddhist statue-2.jpg|Buddha statue inside of Wat Xieng Thong

File:Wat Xieng Thong Laos ceremonial barge.jpg|The naga on the ceremonial barge

File:Buddhist monks cleaning the yard at Wat Xieng Thong temple.jpg|Young Buddhist monk pushing a hand cart to join others busy cleaning the yard

File:Wat Xieng Thong temple entrance to the sim Luang Prabang Laos 25 Nov 2005.jpg|Entrance to the sim of Wat Xieng Thong temple

Wat Xieng Thong Sim altar with offering bowls Luang Prabang Laos 25Nov2005.jpg|Wat Xieng Thong Sim altar with offering bowls, Luang Prabang, Laos

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See also

  • Wat Sen
  • Royal Palace, Luang Prabang
  • Wat Phu
  • Phou Si

References