Wihaan Thep Sathit Phra Kiti Chaleum (วิหารเทพสถิตพระกิติเฉลิม)
Thai.
‘Sanctuary of the Celestial Spirits
in Honour of His Majesty’.
Name of a Thai-Chinese
temple complex dedicated to
the
Taoist
child-deity
Nezha, also
called
Nazha and Nezha
San Taizi.
This ornately designed Chinese shrine, under royal patronage, is
situated along the scenic coastal route from
Tambon
Ang Silah to Khao Sahm Muk in
Amphur
Meuang
District,
Chonburi.
The complex features a four-storey building in traditional Chinese
architectural style, occupying an area of 13
rai.
It comprises three main buildings, along with a structure known as
Ho Fah Din (หอฟ้าดิน), or the
‘Hall of Heaven and Earth’.
It was officially opened on 5 December 1999 to commemorate the sixth
birthday cycle, i.e. the 72 second birthday, of King
Bhumipon Adunyadet.
For this occasion, on 11 January 1998, the
Supreme Patriarch
presided over the gold pouring ceremony for 7
Buddha statues
and bestowed the name of this huge shrine.
All the buildings have plenty of colourful
dragon pillars
(fig.)
and besides a
large collection of Nezha statues in different poses, the
wihaan
also contains a
unique collection of other Taoist deities. Highlights of this site
include 2,840
dragon
statues, giant
incense burners, and a tall sao
fa din (เสาฟ้าดิน)—the ‘Pillar of
Heaven and Earth’—a
freestanding wooden spirit post typically found in open-air
settings. In Chinese shrines, it is typically depicted with a dragon
coiled around it and symbolizes a sacred connection between heaven
and earth—a spiritual axis and source of cosmic energy.
The shrine also features the 60
Tai Sui,
or
Sixty Heavenly Generals,
who assist the
Jade Emperor
in guarding the mortal world. Each general takes a turn overseeing a
specific year according to the
Ganzhi
system and descends to earth in that year to serve and protect those
who pray to them for safety and peace. Sometimes transcribed Wihan Thep
Sathit Phra Kitti Chaloem.
In Thai,
Nezha
is referred to as Najah Sah Thai Cheu (หน่าจาซาไท้จื้อ), which is
the Thai transliteration of Nezha San Taizi, i.e. ‘Nezha, the Third
Prince’. Wihaan Thep Sathit Phra Kiti Chaleum is therefore also
known as Tamnak Najah Sah Thai Cheu (ตำหนักหน่าจาซาไท้จื้อ), meaning
‘Palace of Nezha, the Third Prince’ and
Sala
Najah Sah Thai Cheu (ศาลเจ้าหน่าจาซาไท้จื้อ), i.e. ‘Hall of Nezha,
the Third Prince’.
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