Wat Phichan Sophon

Rating: 4/5 (5 votes)

Operating day: Daily

Operating time: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Wat Phichan Sophon Phong Pheng, Pa Mok, Ang Thong. Wat Pichan Sophon, originally named "Wat Mon," stands as an important symbol of the long-standing relationship between the Mon people and Thai history. It was established in 1732 (B.E. 2275) during the reign of King Borommakot of Ayutthaya. According to legend, the original name of the temple came from a visionary experience of its founders, who wrote the temple’s name in the Mon script. The name was read aloud by a spiritual medium believed to channel King Naresuan the Great, resulting in the name "Wat Mon," honoring the Mon community that had established and cared for the temple.

 

The temple was founded by Nai Uthakan, a Mon descendant, as an act of merit and as a memorial to the Mon ancestors who had followed King Naresuan from Hongsawadi (Pegu) to Ayutthaya. These Mon people sought refuge in Ayutthaya after King Naresuan declared independence from Hongsawadi in 1584 (B.E. 2127), marking a crucial turning point in Thai history.

 

During the wars between Ayutthaya and Hongsawadi, many Mon soldiers volunteered to fight alongside Ayutthaya's forces. A significant battle took place on May 15, 1587 (B.E. 2130) at Ban Bang Phong Pheng in Wiset Chai Chan District, resulting in the loss of many Mon soldiers. Nai Uthakan, a later descendant, built Wat Mon in honor of these ancestors, dedicating its merit to their memory.

 

In 1952 (B.E. 2495), the temple’s name was changed from "Wat Mon" to "Wat Pichan Sophon" by the Department of Religious Affairs, in recognition of the strong faith and consistent merit-making practices of the local community. At the same time, two other temples in the Pamok District of Ang Thong Province also received new names: Wat Bot Teen Tha became "Wat Bot Woradit" and Wat Krasob was renamed "Wat Pinij Thammasan."

 

Although records of abbots before 1899 (B.E. 2442) are unclear, there have been ten abbots since that time, including: Phra Athikan Wang, Phra Athikan Son, Phra Athikan That, Phra Athikan Phrom, Phra Athikan Phan

Phra Athikan Sut, Phra Athikan Choi Amkham, Phra Khru Sophon Thammapichan (Kwa Ananto), Phra Khru Sophon Phattanavichan (Sangwian Panyadeepo), Phra Khru Sophon Thammavichan (Songphon Amsukaro) Among these, only the abbots from the seventh generation onward are known to the current elders of Ban Phong Pheng.

 

Wat Pichan Sophon, or Wat Mon, serves as a monument to Mon cultural heritage and its deep ties to Thai history. The construction of the temple as a tribute to Mon ancestors highlights the profound faith and respect for ancestral spirits. It is not only a place of religious significance but also a historical memorial that deserves to be preserved and passed down to future generations.