{{Short description|Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand}} {{Distinguish|Wat Yai Suwannaram|Wat Suwan Dararam}} [[File:พระอุโบสถวัดสุวรรณารามราชวรวิหาร.jpg|thumb|249x249px|Ordination hall of the temple.]] '''Wat Suwannaram Ratchaworawihan''' ({{langx|th|วัดสุวรรณาราม ราชวรวิหาร}}) or usually shortened to '''Wat Suwannaram''' and '''Wat Suwan''' (วัดสุวรรณาราม, วัดสุวรรณ; [[Royal Thai General System of Transcription|RTGS]]: Wat Suwan Naram, Wat Suwan) is a historic [[wat|second-class royal temple]] in [[Bangkok]] located in [[Soi]] Charan Sanit Wong 32, [[Charan Sanit Wong Road]], [[Siri Rat Subdistrict]], [[Bangkok Noi District]], [[Thonburi]] side, on the western bank of [[Khlong Bangkok Noi]].
==History== The temple dates back to the [[Ayutthaya period]], when it was known as "Wat Thong" (วัดทอง, {{lit|golden monastery}}) without apparent evidence of the builder. Later on, in the era of King [[Taksin]] of [[Thonburi Kingdom]], it was used as the execution ground for Burmese prisoners of war similar to Wat Khok (now [[Wat Phlapphla Chai, Bangkok|Wat Phlapphla Chai]]) in today's [[Phlapphla Chai]] area. King [[Phutthayotfa Chulalok]] (Rama I) bestowed the name Wat Suwannaram, indicating royal patronage. Until the reign of King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V) the grounds of Wat Suwannaram were also used as the Royal Cremation site for members of the [[Chakri dynasty|Royal Family]] and top ranking officials of the Kingdom. {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 250 | align = left | image1 = วัดสุวรรณารามราชวรวิหาร เขตบางกอกน้อย กรุงเทพมหานคร (6).JPG | alt1 = | caption1 = One of murals within ordination hall. | image2 = พระศาสดาพระประธานในพระอุโบสถวัดสุวรรณารามราชวรวิหาร.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Phra Satsada. }} King [[Nangklao]] (Rama III), restored the temple and sponsored the painting of murals in the ordination hall by two famous artists named Luang Wichijesda or Kru Thong Yu and Chinese Luang Seniborirak or Kru Kong Pae. They competed with each other during the painting using a veil so their unfinished artwork could not be seen.<ref name=Ban>{{cite web|work=[[Nation TV (Thailand)|Nation TV]]|language=thai|url=http://www.nationtv.tv/main/program/378426494/|title=Lineกนก ตอน ลมหายใจสุดท้ายของชุมชน ช่วงที่ 1 ชุมชนบ้านบุ|date=2014-10-01|trans-title=LineKanok ep. The last breath of community: first edition: Ban Bu Community}}</ref> The murals are painted in traditional Thai-style depicting stories of Prince Nemi and Prince Mahosadha from the [[Mahanipata Jataka]]. The murals of this temple are considered masterpiece paintings of the [[Rattanakosin]] era with 80 percent preserved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voicetv.co.th/read/268416|work=[[Voice TV]]|language=thai|date=2015-10-07|title=ไทยทัศนา : (2) ชมจิตรกรรมชั้นครู วัดสุวรรณฯ|trans-title=Thai Tatsana : (2) see Suwan Temple masterpiece paintings}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://topicstock.pantip.com/camera/topicstock/2006/04/O4266842/O4266842.html|title=จิตรกรรมฝาผนังวัดสุวรรณาราม มรดกของลูกหลานไทยที่กำลังจะสูญหาย|trans-title=Murals painting at Suwannaram Temple the legacy of Thai descendant that are going to be lost|work=[[Pantip.com]]|date=2006-04-07|author=kwq}}</ref> The architecture of the ordination hall is also of interest, the building being curved like a [[Chinese junk]] in the style of late Ayutthaya period.
Around Wat Suwannaram there are still traditional communities with a long history such as [[Ban Bu]], the last community of bronzework handicraft makers in Bangkok, Wat Thong Market, the local [[flea market]] for more than 100 years, an old [[traditional Thai medicine]] pharmacy, [[Bangkok Noi Museum]], Wat Suwannaram School, and nearby the historic railway station [[Bangkok Noi Railway Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgronline.com/travel/detail/9590000101078|title="ตลาดไร้คาน" ภูมิปัญญาช่างโบราณสุดคลาสสิก...ฟื้นชีวิต วิถีชุมชม กินเที่ยวที่เดียวจบที่ย่าน "บ้านบุ"|work=[[Manager Daily]]|date=2016-10-07|language=thai|trans-title="Without Beam Market", the classical ancient wisdom, ... revive the way of life community, only one stop eat and travel at "Ban Bu" neighbourhood}}</ref>
==Principal Buddha image== The temple's principal Buddha image known as "Phra Satsada" (พระศาสดา; "prophet Buddha") is regarded as highly sacred. Many people come daily to make vows. As part of the ritual they bring a loincloth to tie around their waist and run three times around the ordination hall while making sounds resembling a horse. This practice is called "running the horse".<ref name=Ban/>
==Ghost stories== Because the temple used to be an execution ground, it is rumored to be [[haunted place|haunted]]. When the area was being renovated to build the school playground at Wat Suwannaram, many human skeletons were uncovered. To honour and control the spirits of the Burmese soldiers, a [[spirit house]] was built specifically for the Thai soldier's spirits. This spirit house still stands today on the school playground. The spirit house is dedicated to the Thai soldier's spirits, not the Burmese soldiers. Some people claim to have seen a ''[[preta]]'' on the [[Bell tower (wat)|bell tower]], as well as a male headless ghost wearing red ''[[chong kraben]]''. One of the security guards also says he saw a woman's ghost near the pier around 2:00 am.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnews.co.th/contents/193786|title=ผวา!! หนุ่มเล่าเหตุการณ์หลังเจอดี "ผีหัวเรือ" วัดสุวรรณาราม งานนี้ถึงกับ..?(มีคลิป)|trans-title=Shocked!! young man told the event after suffer "prow of boat ghost", Wat Suwannaram (video clip)|language=thai|work=Tnews|date=2016-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgronline.com/travel/detail/9500000128822|title=สยองขวัญวันปล่อยผี กับเรื่องผีๆในเมืองกรุง|language=thai|work=Manager Daily|date=2007-10-30|author=Num lukthung|trans-title=Halloween horror with ghost stories in the city}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite web|url=http://www.dhammathai.org/watthai/bangkok/watsuwannaram.php|title=วัดสุวรรณาราม ราชวรวิหาร|language=thai|work=Dhammathai}} {{Tourist attractions in Bangkok}} {{coord|13|45|47.9|N|100|28|36.6|E|display=title}}
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Bangkok]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Bangkok]] [[Category:Bangkok Noi district]] [[Category:Thai Theravada Buddhist temples and monasteries]] [[Category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok]] [[Category:Reportedly haunted locations in Thailand]]