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Wat Xieng Thong Standing Buddha Chapel

The Chapel of the Standing Buddha, or Pointed Arch Chapel, is located south of the façade of the sim. Initially one might pay it little attention, since it is sited among so many more colorful and lavish structures. Closer examination reveals wonderful details in the work of the mosaic artist, especially in the pediments on either end and in the dok so fa-like pagoda form at the center of the ridgepole. Although it has a single roof, additional lines of decoration and the four cho fa at the top suggest the image of a double roof.

The chapel dates from at least the early twentieth century and has been restored, but it could be from an much earlier period. The interior is dominated by an impressive modern gilded bronze Buddha, a gift from the King of Thailand to King Sisavang Vong. The image is in the Ham Nhat attitude of 'calming family quarrels' with both hands raised and palms facing outward. It thus is similar in stance to that of the sacred Phra Bang. There is such an image, so named as in the Ham Nhat attitude, dating from 1677 in the Wat Phra Keo Museum in Vientiane. One might also use the Pali term for the attitude, Abhayamudra (reassurance, blessing and protection), though the latter more frequently has the right hand raised and left arm hanging at the side. The interior walls are red with gilded stenciling of dharma wheels and other images on the walls.

Text by Robert D. Fiala, Concordia University, Nebraska, USA