Chedi Kiew
18°47′41″N 98°59′57″E / 18.79471°N 98.99904°E
Chedi Kiew (also spelt Chedi Khao, เจดีย์กิ่ว, the White Pagoda) is a Buddhist stupa located on the banks of the Ping River, Chiang Mai, Thailand.[1] The pagoda commemorates a brave local resident, Lung Piang (Uncle Piang), who sacrificed his life for Chiang Mai.[2][3]
Legend
[edit]According to legend, during a Burmese siege of Chiang Mai, a diving contest was proposed to decide the city's fate. The Burmese, confident in their superior swimming skills, challenged the people of Chiang Mai to an underwater duel, believing the highland residents lacked proficiency in aquatic activities. The agreement stipulated that if the Chiang Mai representative could remain underwater longer than their Burmese counterpart, the invading forces would withdraw.[2][4]
A local man named Lung Piang volunteered to represent Chiang Mai, despite his limited swimming ability. The contest was held near the present-day site of the White Pagoda. Both participants submerged, and after some time, the Burmese diver resurfaced, seemingly claiming victory. However, Lung Piang did not reappear. When his body was retrieved, it was discovered that Lung Piang had tied himself to an underwater stake, sacrificing his life to secure a symbolic victory for his city. His selfless act of patriotism became a powerful legend for the people of Chiang Mai. To commemorate Lung Piang's sacrifice, the ruler of Chiang Mai ordered the construction of the White Pagoda on the banks of the Ping River.[5][6]
Other historical accounts suggest that, due to the White Pagoda's lack of the typical height and features of a traditional religious stupa, it may have served as a funerary stupa for a prominent Burmese royal during their occupation of Chiang Mai from 1758 to 1774. Alternatively, some believe the White Pagoda marks the entrance to a tunnel connected to the underground passage beneath the central Wat Chedi Luang.[2]
Before the Yi Peng Festival, it is a tradition for the local government of Chiang Mai to lead a ceremony at the shrine of the guardian spirits and the White Pagoda by the Ping River. The ritual includes seeking forgiveness from the Goddess of the River (Mae Phra Khongkha) to ensure the festival runs smoothly.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "บวงสรวงเจดีย์ขาว-ขอขมาแม่น้ำปิง". เนชั่นทีวี (in Thai). 25 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "เจดีย์กิ่ว หรือ เจดีย์ขาว เมื่อพ.ศ. 2504 สมัยก่อนเคยมีปั๊มน้ำมันคาลเท็กซ์อยู่ตรงหัวมุม ซึ่งเป็นบริเวณเดียวกับสำนักงานเทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่ในปัจจุบัน - ภาพล้านนาในอดีต". lannainfo.library.cmu.ac.th.
- ^ "เจดีย์ขาว ประวัติศาสตร์อีกหน้าหนึ่งของคนเชียงใหม่". Chiang Mai Review (in Thai). 20 November 2012.
- ^ "เปิดตำนานเจดีย์ขาว เรื่องเล่าปู่เปียง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่". Thai PBS Podcast (in Thai).
- ^ "เจดีย์ขาว :: Museum Thailand". www.museumthailand.com. Thailand Museum.
- ^ Udom Rungruangsri. (1999). Kiew Chedi. In Encyclopedia of Northern Thai Culture (Volume 3, pages 1585-1586). Bangkok: Thai Culture Encyclopedia Foundation
- ^ "เชียงใหม่บวงสรวงเจดีย์ขาวและแม่น้ำปิงในงานประเพณียี่เป็ง พร้อมตรวจท่าน้ำมั่นคงรับ นทท". mgronline.com (in Thai). 11 November 2019.