When was Wat Chedi Liam built?
Wat Chedi Liam was built around 1287. It remained in use during the early Lan Na period after King Mangrai the Great established the city of Chiang Mai.
Questions about Wat Chedi Liam
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What does Wat Chedi Liam mean in English?
Wat Chedi Liam translates to "Temple of the Squared Pagoda." The temple was formerly known as Wat Ku Kham, meaning "Temple of the Golden Stupa."
Where is Wat Chedi Liam located?
Wat Chedi Liam is located in the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam, which is now part of present-day Chiang Mai in Thailand.
Why do the Buddha images at Wat Chedi Liam have yellow coloring?
All but one of the Buddha images on the chedi wear yellow Burmese coloring rather than white Thai colors. This is a result of the 1908 renovation funded by a Burmese trader, which gave many of the temple's decorations a Burmese style.
What architectural style is the chedi at Wat Chedi Liam?
The chedi follows a five-tiered design common in the early Lanna period and shows clear influence from the Mon Haripunchai design tradition. Each corner is guarded by a large outward-facing lion, and Buddha statues showing different mudras appear on four of the tiers.
Was Wat Chedi Liam renovated in the 20th century?
Wat Chedi Liam was renovated twice in the 20th century: first in 1908 by a Burmese trader, and again in 1992 when further improvements were made to the site. Not all of the 1992 changes were considered necessary or popular, and some needed repairs were not completed.