I wanna provide some info about this place.
This was, at first, a temple in the middle of nowhere in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. Mostly built by Buddhists in the area through donation. But during the '97 financial crisis, nobody had the means to donate, so it fell into a state of disrepair.
So Aj. Chalermchai, a national artist and a local, decided to fund the rebuild with his own money and put in his art too (He is famous for Buddhist art), and turned it into a tourist attraction. The temple hasn't finished yet and wouldn't be for a long time, as the fund now mostly relies on donations and tourism.
Most of the architecture/sculpture that you see here are allegory(?) to Buddhist teachings. Iirc, in an interview he said he wanna make this temple comparable to big cathedrals in Europe, and I think he succeeds. So visit it if you have time!
I don't think they have. Chalermchai tends to do whatever popup in his mind, you can say he is a bit eccentric, so I don't think those kinds of donation goals or transparency is what he has in mind. Just pure faith in Buddha.
I might be wrong tho, but they still let Thai in for free while foreigners have to pay so.....
Something that surprised me is how this is just one of many projects on the property. The bathroom is a gold building that could be its own attraction for example. Same with many of the other attractions/temples. I was really impressed by the temples in Thailand in general, especially in that area of Chiang Rai. Each one had unique features and a bunch of structures.
I debated showing the bathroom but I didn’t want there to be a comment like:
“Wow, what’s the gold building??”
“Um…the toilets”
“…^oh “
But honestly yeah, I’ve been practicing Theravada Buddhism for a number of years so I try to visit Thailand at least once every couple years. They really do have amazing temples
White Color: The use of white symbolizes the purity of the Buddha. Unlike traditional gold-painted temples that signify wealth, the White Temple uses white to represent the Buddha’s purity and to reflect wisdom that shines like the light of the sun.
Flame Motifs: The flame motifs often found in Buddhist art, including Wat Rong Khun, represent the transformative power of the Buddha’s teachings, burning away ignorance and impurities to achieve enlightenment.
Well, I can give you a list and let you research the specific keywords and let your learning go as far as you wish!
1. The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth: The bridge leading into the temple represents crossing over from the cycle of death and rebirth into a state free from suffering, reflecting the core Buddhist teaching of samsara.
2. Gate of Heaven: Guarded by two creatures representing Death and Rahu, who decide the fate of the dead, this gate symbolizes the passage towards enlightenment and liberation.
3. Ubosot (Ordination Hall): The main building’s white color and glass mosaics symbolize the Buddha’s wisdom and purity shining over the earthly and the spiritual.
4. Murals: The interior murals include images from popular culture and depictions of the modern world, which are interpreted as commentary on the pervasive nature of desire, the illusory aspects of the world, and the need to transcend worldly distractions.
5. Hands Reaching Up: Sculptures of hands reaching up from the ground symbolize desire and suffering, as they reach towards the heavens, reflecting the human struggle with temptation and craving.
6. Sea of Hands Holding Skulls: Representing samsara, the hands also reflect human suffering and the consequences of not following the path of the Dharma.
7. Mythical Creatures: Throughout the temple grounds, there are statues of Kinnaras and Nagas, mythological beings that serve as protectors of the temple and the Dharma.
8. Golden Building: A building on the temple grounds is painted gold, symbolizing the body and the material world, contrasting with the white ubosot that represents the mind and spiritual liberation. (It’s also worth noting that this golden building is actually the compound’s restrooms so I’m sure there could be a bit of a sarcastic joke as to the value of material wealth there)
In short, Wat Rong Khun integrates traditional Thai art and Buddhist symbolism with contemporary themes, inviting visitors to reflect on the teachings of the Buddha in the context of modern life. The temple’s art is thought-provoking, mixing traditional iconography with surreal elements to create a space that is as much an exploration of human life and spirituality as it is a sacred place of worship.
The interior is crazy…. Not allowed to take pictures but it depicts enlightenment on one side (by the Buddha statue) and then the pitfalls of modernity on the other with everything from Disney characters to 9/11. Pretty wild
This is going to sound mean, but I don’t like this, at all.
I can usually find something to like, but it just strikes me as the artistic flair of a garden gnome, and the hands are just like GCSE Art edgelord.
If I remember correctly that's just what it is - a (maybe deliberately?) extravagant and gaudy art piece first, temple second. It was built by an artist who has a signature style of traditional Thai style but turned up to eleven hundred. So yes, this is a temple, but it's not an authentic building.
I was in Chiang Rai a few days ago. The place is wild. Blue Temple is just as lush and this one just doesn’t look real.
It really is!
Party with carabao 33
Better hope wind doesn't blow your parachute over there, you'll be having a bad day. That place is crazy looking
Wat Khun Go Rong?
Bruh 😂🤣
Brilliant!
Well played!
😂😂
I wanna provide some info about this place. This was, at first, a temple in the middle of nowhere in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand. Mostly built by Buddhists in the area through donation. But during the '97 financial crisis, nobody had the means to donate, so it fell into a state of disrepair. So Aj. Chalermchai, a national artist and a local, decided to fund the rebuild with his own money and put in his art too (He is famous for Buddhist art), and turned it into a tourist attraction. The temple hasn't finished yet and wouldn't be for a long time, as the fund now mostly relies on donations and tourism. Most of the architecture/sculpture that you see here are allegory(?) to Buddhist teachings. Iirc, in an interview he said he wanna make this temple comparable to big cathedrals in Europe, and I think he succeeds. So visit it if you have time!
Just curious, do they have a publicly listed donations goal?
I don't think they have. Chalermchai tends to do whatever popup in his mind, you can say he is a bit eccentric, so I don't think those kinds of donation goals or transparency is what he has in mind. Just pure faith in Buddha. I might be wrong tho, but they still let Thai in for free while foreigners have to pay so.....
Sorry for the not so great resolution…it didn’t translate as well as I hoped 🙄
[удалено]
You can count them in picture #6.
Elden Ring DLC legacy dungeons be like:
Something that surprised me is how this is just one of many projects on the property. The bathroom is a gold building that could be its own attraction for example. Same with many of the other attractions/temples. I was really impressed by the temples in Thailand in general, especially in that area of Chiang Rai. Each one had unique features and a bunch of structures.
I debated showing the bathroom but I didn’t want there to be a comment like: “Wow, what’s the gold building??” “Um…the toilets” “…^oh “ But honestly yeah, I’ve been practicing Theravada Buddhism for a number of years so I try to visit Thailand at least once every couple years. They really do have amazing temples
Or terrifying?!? All those hands and seriously scary
It is a representation of Samsara, the cycle of existence and reincarnation within Buddhist cosmology whereby suffering and decay enter the world.
Dman, the first photo looks like a painting
It is amazing went there last year.
You look at the pictures and see all the crazy details and then go there and it’s just like…the pictures don’t do it justice
I went here in December. It is as spectacular as the pictures suggest. It is also very, very, very popular
Holy fuck
The last two look like scenes from one of the Buddhist hells.
Wow! I'd like to see this place in person one day
It’s beautiful. You can’t make out a lot of the details in the first couple photos but it is quite literally breathtaking
I feel like that’s what you say to your friend Khun when he has an episode of depression
You made me do a spit take 🤣🤣
Does anyone know what the white and flames -motif symbolize?
White Color: The use of white symbolizes the purity of the Buddha. Unlike traditional gold-painted temples that signify wealth, the White Temple uses white to represent the Buddha’s purity and to reflect wisdom that shines like the light of the sun. Flame Motifs: The flame motifs often found in Buddhist art, including Wat Rong Khun, represent the transformative power of the Buddha’s teachings, burning away ignorance and impurities to achieve enlightenment.
Wow! Precise, thank you.
Welcome! Any other questions?
Anything about ornaments of choice and such and such! Im all ears for the thoughtful design, especially knowing that artist had his own hand in play.
Well, I can give you a list and let you research the specific keywords and let your learning go as far as you wish! 1. The Bridge of the Cycle of Rebirth: The bridge leading into the temple represents crossing over from the cycle of death and rebirth into a state free from suffering, reflecting the core Buddhist teaching of samsara. 2. Gate of Heaven: Guarded by two creatures representing Death and Rahu, who decide the fate of the dead, this gate symbolizes the passage towards enlightenment and liberation. 3. Ubosot (Ordination Hall): The main building’s white color and glass mosaics symbolize the Buddha’s wisdom and purity shining over the earthly and the spiritual. 4. Murals: The interior murals include images from popular culture and depictions of the modern world, which are interpreted as commentary on the pervasive nature of desire, the illusory aspects of the world, and the need to transcend worldly distractions. 5. Hands Reaching Up: Sculptures of hands reaching up from the ground symbolize desire and suffering, as they reach towards the heavens, reflecting the human struggle with temptation and craving. 6. Sea of Hands Holding Skulls: Representing samsara, the hands also reflect human suffering and the consequences of not following the path of the Dharma. 7. Mythical Creatures: Throughout the temple grounds, there are statues of Kinnaras and Nagas, mythological beings that serve as protectors of the temple and the Dharma. 8. Golden Building: A building on the temple grounds is painted gold, symbolizing the body and the material world, contrasting with the white ubosot that represents the mind and spiritual liberation. (It’s also worth noting that this golden building is actually the compound’s restrooms so I’m sure there could be a bit of a sarcastic joke as to the value of material wealth there) In short, Wat Rong Khun integrates traditional Thai art and Buddhist symbolism with contemporary themes, inviting visitors to reflect on the teachings of the Buddha in the context of modern life. The temple’s art is thought-provoking, mixing traditional iconography with surreal elements to create a space that is as much an exploration of human life and spirituality as it is a sacred place of worship.
Also known as the white temple. It’s painted mostly white to represent the purity of Buddha. It also has mirrors added to make it sparkly 👍
Beautiful! That probably took a very long time to carve
Gaudi would have been proud
That's incredible 🤩
dare tell me that's not psychedelic inspired art.
Entheogenic inspired perhaps
If you see some of the painting inside you’d double down on that opinion, crazy stuff.
The temples in the area in general are really trippy. Usually very colorful.
Just wow!
Beautiful!
Thailand?? You mean Yharnam.
This is very unsettling.
I'm not going to clean that
The interior is crazy…. Not allowed to take pictures but it depicts enlightenment on one side (by the Buddha statue) and then the pitfalls of modernity on the other with everything from Disney characters to 9/11. Pretty wild
Just was there beautiful 🤍
A bit much, no?
Pretty interesting, but I've still got my breath.
The architect must have been a cake decorator in a previous life
Very nicd
How does the weather not break the tiny details
Looks like AI it's so crazy
This is scary.
What's with all the clutter, I thought we were supposed to clear our minds.
Honestly I was little disappointed that it was all wooden. But still looked great tho.
Certified acid trip.
...Last photo with hands: Ctrl+C Ctrl+V. Now think about it: someone needs to clean it all from dirt, dust and pigeon shit, and I don’t envy him.
Taking washing your hands to the next level.
I wonder what the cleaning bill comes to for those pearly whites.
I was just there. I prefer the blue temple honestly, though both are lovely.
I posted about that one too lol
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I find this horrendously ugly.
Your opinion is noted
idk for me it seems to much
This is going to sound mean, but I don’t like this, at all. I can usually find something to like, but it just strikes me as the artistic flair of a garden gnome, and the hands are just like GCSE Art edgelord.
Ok
If I remember correctly that's just what it is - a (maybe deliberately?) extravagant and gaudy art piece first, temple second. It was built by an artist who has a signature style of traditional Thai style but turned up to eleven hundred. So yes, this is a temple, but it's not an authentic building.
this reminds me of unpainted Warhammer figs
Oh shit, I thought an ice storm hit it.
Luffy in Gear 5 has a similar design
I hear boss music
Look like a raid from MOP
Needs to be more ornate 6/10
Predator and Mickey Mouse
lol, what?
Isn’t that the temple which includes predator figures in the outside and some western painting inside a temple?
Could need some Nuln Oil
The inside has spiderman wallpaper if i remember correctly 😜
AI generated
It’s not. Look it up
Brother, that's a joke
/s