Wat Sri Suphan (Silver Temple)
Chiang Mai
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Wat Sri Suphan is more famously known as the ‘Silver Temple’, after the silverware artisan area of surrounding Wualai Street. The silversmiths are said to have originated in Myanmar and are still active today. Although temple dates back some 500 years, the current iteration and indeed the silver Ubosot (ordination hall) is recent, being constructed between 2004-2016. The actual metals used are a mixture of silver, aluminium and nickel, which combined, create a kind of beaten metal pewter appearance. Two techniques are used: repoussé and chasing.
Repoussé is where a hammer is used to beat the back of a metal panel to make a bas-relief artwork shape. Chasing or embossing is when a hammer is used to sink the front of the metal, adding to the design. On Saturdays when the Wualai Street Market is in full flow, the temple is illuminated in rotation using four colours – green, blue, red and violet. This adds a dramatic effect. Women may not enter the ubosot because it is an active ordination hall, but rows of chairs are laid out in front of the entrance for them to attend to their devotions. |
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