Ban Mae: Temple History and Woodcarving

Ban Mae is best understood through its cultural history: at Wat Thammachai, different building materials come together with a history of renewal, local tradition and change. Woodcarving and art in the community add to this picture. Wat Thammachai is in Ban Mae; the renovation and later relocation of temple objects, as well as the tradition concerning Wiang Mae, are part of the history of the associated community. If you choose a holiday rental based on your cultural interests, this distinction helps clarify how each topic is connected to the area.

Wat Thammachai: Construction and Change

The former viharn at Wat Thammachai had white-plastered brick walls bonded with clay. Its columns and roof structure were made of Lanna teak. Thus, light-coloured plastered walls stand alongside a wooden structure. The different materials offer a concrete insight into the viharn’s construction, without reducing its architecture to a single feature.

In the community, the damaged viharn at Wat Thammachai was renovated around 1897 by the abbot and worshippers. At that time, the chofa and bai raka were renewed to reflect the tastes of the period, and the temple was renamed Wat Thammachai. The renovation combined structural renewal with changes to the roof decorations and the temple’s name. Both aspects belong to the history of the same temple, but tell different parts of its development.

The history of Wat Thammachai in the community also includes what happened to its objects: after the temple was abandoned, important old items, including Buddha images, were taken to Wat Nam Bo Luang around 1907. In the history of the temple in the community, the renovation around 1897 predates its later abandonment and the relocation of important objects around 1907.

Local tradition in the community says that Wat Thammachai stood at the centre of Wiang Mae. Today, only small traces of the earth rampart that surrounded Wiang Mae remain visible in the community.

Wood Art and Sculpture in the Community

Woodcarving has been practised in Ban Kio Lae Noi for more than six decades. The works range from bas-reliefs and high reliefs to fully three-dimensional forms. Bas-reliefs stay close to a flat surface, high reliefs project further, and fully three-dimensional works are sculpted on all sides. Subjects include elephants, literature, Jataka tales and scenes of village life; depictions from the Ramakien are also among them. Works by the village’s artisans were selected for “One Tambon One Product” in 2004.

Another work in the community is a stucco sculpture of a lion by Khru Saman Sao Sing. It stands in an open area beside a school. Unlike the carved wooden works, this sculpture is made of stucco and depicts a lion. The community’s different forms of artistic expression thus complement one another without becoming a single craft.

Cultural Highlights to Help Choose Where to Stay

If you are particularly interested in historical architecture and local history, Wat Thammachai offers a specific connection to Ban Mae. For woodcarving, Ban Kio Lae Noi is the relevant focus; the lion sculpture adds another work to the community’s cultural picture. When looking for a holiday rental, you can therefore start by considering which of these topics will shape your trip most. This helps you decide whether to focus mainly on the temple’s history or on the wider local culture.

For the wider travel overview: San Pa Tong District.