Wat Nang Liaw

Wat Nang Liaw (Wiang Nuea) is located at No. 512, Suchada Road, Ban Nang Liaw, Village No. 1, Wiang Nuea Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District. It belongs to the Maha Nikaya sect of Buddhism. The temple grounds cover an area of 2 rai, 1 ngan, and 74 square wah, with land title deed number 2706.

 

Its boundaries are: to the north, adjacent to land plot No. 72; to the south, east, and west, bordered by public roads. The monastic buildings include an ordination hall (ubosot) built in 1927 (B.E. 2470), a sermon hall (sala kan parian), and two monks’ residences (kuti).

 

Sacred objects within the temple include Buddha images and a bell-shaped chedi (stupa), as well as artistic artifacts such as a carved giant, a royal portrait of King Rama VI, and a sculpture of a foreigner on horseback.

 

Wat Nang Liaw was founded in 1877 (B.E. 2420) and was officially granted wisungkhamsima (a consecrated boundary for ordination) on July 10, 1972 (B.E. 2515). The consecrated area measures 17 meters wide and 29 meters long, and the boundary demarcation ritual (phuk phan si ma) was performed on March 11, 1973 (B.E. 2516).

 

Wat Nang Liaw is symbolically linked to the legend of Lady Suchada, who was said to have looked back with sorrow toward Phra Kaew Don Tao before her execution. The path descending to the Wang River is referred to by locals as “Nang Loi” (The Floating Lady).

 

It is believed to be the place where her blood rose to the sky. The gate known as Than Nang is said to be where she was taken to be executed at a river spot called Wang Ya Thao. Some also believe that the ruins of another ancient site known as Hu Tao Ya Sutta is a corrupted version of the name Chao Ya Suchada.