Leng Buai Ia Shrine
Encyclopedia
The Leng Buai Ia Shrine is a Chinese
shrine, in the Samphanthawong
district of Bangkok
's Chinatown
. It is located in a courtyard amongst a network of narrow alleys off Charoen Krung Road
.
, based on a plaque contained inside with a Chinese inscription stating that it was built in 1658, during the Ayutthaya period
. Though to have originally been a Teochew
-style shrine, it would have been used by Chinese businessmen aiming to improve the prosperity of their businesses and to establish social connections.
, the shrine has a roof made of glazed colored tiles, adorned with two ceramic-clad dragons. The two main columns at the shrine entrance are also entwined by ceramic-clad dragons.
The shrine contains, at its center, an altar dedicated to Leng Buai Ia and his wife. To the left and right there are altars to the deity Gong Wu and the Queen of Heaven respectively.
Near the entrance is an ancient bell attributed to the Emperor Daoguang, towards the end of the Qing Dynasty
.
Other items inside the shrine include three plaques from the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi, a bell inscribed with the name of Choen Thai Chue, and a container for incense sticks given as a gift from King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V).
Culture of China
Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces...
shrine, in the Samphanthawong
Samphanthawong
Samphanthawong is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Regarded as Bangkok's Chinatown, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts...
district of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
's Chinatown
Yaowarat Road
Bangkok's Chinatown is centered on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district.The Chinatown is an old business center covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods...
. It is located in a courtyard amongst a network of narrow alleys off Charoen Krung Road
Charoen Krung Road
Charoen Krung ) is a major road in Bangkok that runs roughly parallel to the Chao Phraya river. Part of it is considered Chinatown along with Yaowarat Road, part of it is closest major road to Phahurat , its northern terminus is the Grand Palace, it runs through Nakhon Kasem and Khlong Thom...
.
History
The shrine is considered to be the oldest Chinese shrine in ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, based on a plaque contained inside with a Chinese inscription stating that it was built in 1658, during the Ayutthaya period
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
. Though to have originally been a Teochew
Teochew people
The Chaozhou people are Han people, native to the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province of China who speak the Teochew dialect. Today, most Teochew people live outside China in Southeast Asia especially in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They can also be found almost anywhere in the...
-style shrine, it would have been used by Chinese businessmen aiming to improve the prosperity of their businesses and to establish social connections.
Style and Layout
Built in a classic Chinese architectural styleChinese architecture
Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture that has taken shape in East Asia over many centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details...
, the shrine has a roof made of glazed colored tiles, adorned with two ceramic-clad dragons. The two main columns at the shrine entrance are also entwined by ceramic-clad dragons.
The shrine contains, at its center, an altar dedicated to Leng Buai Ia and his wife. To the left and right there are altars to the deity Gong Wu and the Queen of Heaven respectively.
Near the entrance is an ancient bell attributed to the Emperor Daoguang, towards the end of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
Other items inside the shrine include three plaques from the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi, a bell inscribed with the name of Choen Thai Chue, and a container for incense sticks given as a gift from King Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
(Rama V).