Wat Chiang Yuen

About

Wat Chiang Yuen (Thai: วัดเชียงยืน, also romanised as Wat Chiang Yeun) is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand, located just north of the walled city, outside the Chang Phueak Gate. The temple name Chiang Yuen consists of two words: chiang (เชียง; city) and yuen (ยืน; to stand), together meaning the temple of "the city that stands (for a long time)". Hence the importance of the temple as a temple past Lan Na kings visited before coronation. The belief translates to the locals as well, who would pay respect at the temple at the beginning of a new position or a new business. The temple is considered significant historically with its importance to the rulers, as well as serving as the seat of the supreme patriarch in the past, starting from its inaugurator Phra Abhaya Sārda (Unruean Sophano).

The temple was built to the north of the walled city, a direction correlated to "power" (det mueang, เดชเมือง; the city's power/authority) according to the horoscopic system of Thaksa. Coronation rituals in the Lan Na Kingdom consisted of the king entering Chiang Mai's walled city at the Chang Phueak Gate; which sits in the north. It is thus believed to bless the ruler with similarly power and authority due to its cardinal direction's association with power. A similar ritual also existed after a warfare. The ruler would visit Wat Chiang Yuen to first remove his warrior attire and worship the principal Buddha statue of the temple; Phra Sapphanyu Chao Det Mueang, located in the wihan, before entering back into the walled city at Chang Phueak Gate.