| Wat
Xieng Thong: Carriage House (c. 1962) |
Luang Prabang, Laos |
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The Carriage House, or Royal Funerary Chariot Hall (Hóhng Kép Mien, or Hor Latsalat) is located at the eastern edge of Wat Xieng Thong and to the right of the city entry from Thanon Sakkarine. It was built to house and preserve the funeral carriage of King Sisavang Vong (1885-1959), King of Luang Prabang, 1904-46, and King of Laos, 1946-59. It also contains other religious and ceremonial relics, as well as, occasionally, some historic Ramayana puppets that belonged to the royal family. Construction commenced in 1962. It is a relatively tall structure with a double roof in the Xieng Khuang (or Luang Prabang III) style. There is a single entry door in the front of the building, though the façade windows are of the same size and shape of the entry door.
The framework of the building is reinforced concrete. It is only on the inside that that material is visible. Uniquely, the façade and exterior side walls are covered with sculpted and gilded teakwood panels. They were crafted by local artisan Thit Tanh (Pae Ton) with the assistance of other Luang Prabang craftsmen under the supervision of the master artisans of the Royal Palace. The panels recount the Lao version of the story of the Ramayana, the Pha Lak Pha Lam. One can follow episodes of Rama, Hanuman, Sita's judgment by fire, Ravana, and Indra in the form of the golden deer. The right tympanum is stunning in its depiction of the combat between the vulture king and Ravana, the kidnapper of Sita. Ravana's numerous arms hold many different weapons. Carved wooden shutters on the northwest side of the building include depictions of Monkey King Hanuman as well as devas and devis. The exterior carved and gilded surfaces of the façade and two sides glimmer in the bright sun and well-complements the intricate colors, lines and patterns of the nearby sim.
The almost 40 ft (12m) high gilded wooden royal carriage sets grandly on the body of a six wheel truck at the entry door. It also was the creation of Thit Tanh (Pae Ton). The hearse was used carry the remains of King Sisavang Vong to the field near Wat That Luang for his cremation in April 1961. Highly ornate, it is dominated by seven nagas with gaping jaws and prominent fangs at its prow and an elaborate red canopy supported by gilded and ornate columns at its center. There are three ornate gilded sandlewood funerary urns that contained the remains of the king's father (in front) and mother (in the rear); Sisavang Vong's remains are given the central place of honor under the canopy. The remains were placed upright in a fetal position. The ashes of the king, queen and royal brother are at Wat That Luang.
A number of glass cabinets
along the side walls contain various items (occasionally historic wooden puppets)
with wooden framed pictures of the Buddha and other religious objects, of varying
quality. The rear of the hall contains scores of Buddha and other religious
images set near a vermillion wall on which there are numerous mosaic creations.