Phrathat Yaku (พระธาตุยาคู)

Thai. Name of an ancient religious site in Kalasin Province that is attributed to the Dvaravati period, a former kingdom in Thailand that existed between the 6th and 11th century AD. Dating from between the 6th and 11th century AD, its main structure is a square-based chedi transitioning into an octagonal form, featuring both Dvaravati and later Ayutthaya-style elements. Renovations during the Rattanakosin period brought the structure to its current height of 15 metres. Excavations by the Fine Arts Department revealed that the chedi was built over an earlier cruciform brick base. Bai sema border stones depicting Buddhist tales like the Mahosot Chadok (fig.) and Bhuridatta Chadok (fig.) were found around the site, one notably dating to the 9th–10th centuries AD. Artefacts such as ceramics, ornaments, animal bones, and clay amulets—known as Fa Daet Song Yang Crypt Buddha images (พระกรุฟ้าแดดสงยาง)—were also discovered. The site is decorated with thung (fig.), ceremonial Isaan banners used in religious rites, made by weaving cotton threads into geometric patterns. A notable type, seen here hung from tall poles, is the thung yai maengmoom, a kind of tung that consists of small octagonal patches made of loosely knitted cloth in various colours and strung together to form a mobile or banner. This field of poles is referred to as Thalae Thung Isaan, literally ‘Sea of Isaan Banners’. Local oral history links the site to a revered monk, Ya Khu Ngom (ยาคูงอม), and the founding of nearby Wat Pho Chai Sema Ram (วัดโพธิ์ชัยเสมาราม). However, archaeological evidence confirms that the monument predates the village and monk, affirming its origin as a Dvaravati religious site. Phrathat Yaku was officially registered as an ancient monument in 2002. Sometimes transliterated Phra That Yaku and Phrathat Yakoo. WATCH VIDEO. 回