Wat Khamong

Wat Khomong is a local temple under the Maha Nikaya sect, located in Khomong Subdistrict, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province. The temple has a long and fascinating history, serving as both a spiritual center and a cultural landmark for the local community. It reflects the devotion of the people as well as the rich architectural heritage of Thailand.

 

According to historical records, Wat Khomong was established around 1787, with Phra Ajarn Roem as the founder who initiated the construction and officially marked the ordination boundary (Phutthasima) in 1957. However, the National Office of Buddhism cites the founding year as 1854, showing slight discrepancies in historical sources, which is common for temples with such long histories. Regardless of the exact date, the temple has remained a center of faith and cultural learning for the community for centuries.

 

A distinctive feature of Wat Khomong is its Maha Udom-style ordination hall, which has only a single entrance. The hall is adorned with early Rattanakosin-style boundary stones (Bai Sema). Inside, there is a unique sundial made from a single piece of Kan Kra wood in a doll-like form with two arms, originally installed atop eight sema archways surrounding the hall. Today, only one sundial remains.

 

The temple also houses an ancient Chinese pavilion, believed to have been built shortly after the temple’s construction, likely to store the ashes of wealthy Chinese individuals. Although the exact history of the pavilion is unclear, it reflects the cultural blending of Thai and Chinese traditions.

 

The ordination hall is built from concrete, measuring 8 meters in width and 13 meters in length, with walls approximately 2.9 meters high, not including the roof. At the front, a gabled pediment extends outward, built at the same time as the hall. The interior floor is covered with marble, and the roof is lined with solid wooden panels in a lattice pattern, all original from the initial construction, with only necessary repairs made over time. The hall has a single entrance measuring 1.68 meters wide and 2.16 meters high, and eight windows each 0.97 meters wide and 1.56 meters high. Locals refer to this hall as the "Maha Udom Hall".

 

Phra Khruphiphat Phlathorn, the current abbot, explains that in the past, this hall was considered sacred according to ancient beliefs in esoteric magic. It was used for consecrating amulets and sacred objects. The single entrance was meant to contain the spiritual energy and prevent it from leaking. Typically, Maha Udom-style halls are completely enclosed with no windows, but Wat Khomong’s hall has eight windows, similar to the ordination hall at Wat Phra Non in Phetchaburi Province, which also has wall openings but only one main entrance.

 

Wat Khomong is located at No. 54, Moo 2, Khomong Subdistrict, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, covering an area of 37 rai, 3 ngan, and 1 square wah. Although the exact official date of establishment is unclear, community development documents indicate that the temple was likely officially founded around 1807, during the reign of King Rama I (April 6, 1782 – September 7, 1789).

 

Today, Wat Khomong stands as both a spiritual hub for locals and a place to study the history, art, and culture of eastern Thailand. It also demonstrates the blending of Thai and Chinese cultural traditions that has existed in the community since the past.