Sanctuary of Truth
Encyclopedia
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
, Thailand
Thailand
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...
. It is an all wood construction building, resembling a temple, and filled inside and out with wood sculpture based on traditional Buddhist and Hindu motifs. The building, which resembles a temple, is close to 105 meters (345 feet) high and covers an area of more than two rais. It features contemporary Visionary art
Visionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
based on traditional religious themes. The project was initiated as an idea of Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphant
Lek Viriyaphant
Lek Viriyaphant was an eccentric Thai millionaire and patron of culture responsible for the construction of Ancient City, Erawan Museum and Sanctuary of Truth.-See also:...
in 1981, and is scheduled to be complete in 2025.
It is in the style of the ancient Khmer
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
architecture such as that at Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
and entirely covered in hand-carved wooden sculpture. It has four gopura
Gopuram
A Gopuram or Gopura, is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial...
, respectively representing images from the Buddhist and Hindu religions and mythologies of Cambodia, China, India and Thailand.
According to the official website, its purpose is to use art and culture as "a reflection of the Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. Within this complex, visitors will understand Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic Thought, Cycle of living, Life Relationship with Universe and Common Goal of Life toward Utopia". The entrance fee for the Sanctuary of Truth is Thai baht 500 per person (for both Thai and foreign nationals).
See also
- Luang Pu Bunleua SulilatLuang Pu Bunleua SulilatBunleua Sulilat was a Thai/Isan/Lao mystic, myth-maker, spiritual cult leader and sculpture artist...
- Sala KeokuSala KeokuSala Keoku is a park featuring giant fantastic concrete sculptures inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism. It is located near Nong Khai, Thailand in immediate proximity of the Thai-Lao border and the Mekong river. The park has been built by and reflects the personal vision of Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat...
- Buddha ParkBuddha ParkBuddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan , is a sculpture park located 25 km southeast from Vientiane, Laos in a meadow by the Mekong River. Although it is not a temple , the park may be referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan , since it contains numerous religious images...
- Chalermchai KositpipatChalermchai KositpipatChalermchai Kositpipat , is a Thai visual artist. Primarily a painter, Chalermchai's works have been exhibited worldwide, and he is known for his use of Buddhist imagery in his art.-Biography:...
- Wat Rong KhunWat Rong KhunWat Rong Khun is a contemporary unconventional Buddhist and Hindu temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat. Construction began in 1997,finished in 2008.-Style and construction:...
- Wat Pa Maha Chedi KaewWat Pa Maha Chedi KaewWat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew , also known colloquially as The Million Bottle Temple, is an unconventional contemporary Buddhist temple in Khun Han district of Sisaket province, Thailand. The temple is made of over 1 million empty discarded beer bottles. The construction was initiated in 1984.-External...
- Visionary environmentsVisionary environmentsVisionary environments are extensive/large-scale artistic installations intended to capture intense subjective/personal experiences of their creators...