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PRAE PROVINCE
Balan Scripture Preservation Institute, Wat Soongmen
โ€Lanna-Balan Scripture Preservation Collection Centre, Lanchangโ€
Wat Soongmen is assumed to be a temple that was built in Krung Thonburi period after the
beginning of Krung Rattanakosin period. Although there is no clear evidence, it is considered to be built
in-between the period when Myanmar ruled Lanna and the people of Lanna together with King Taksin the
Great expelled the Burmese intruders. At that time, the Lanna civilization had an important role of developing
the country and holding up Buddhism. According to the evidence in the biography of Khu Ba Kanchana
Arunya Vasee Maha Then, the abbot in the year of 1789-1866, it is discovered that Wat Soongmen has
long been in existence.
The Narration
Kru Ba Maha Then is highly revered. He studied Buddhaโ€s teaching so much so that he has reached
the highest level and is thoroughly knowledgeable in many subjects. He made pilgrimages to various
temples in Prae and other provinces. In the north, he persuaded monks and followers who have knowledge
in various subjects to engrave them on Balan, sort out and put together for the later generation to study.
The temples he went to compile the inscription were Wat Soongmen, Wat Srichoom, Wat Mahabhodi,
Wat Muangmor; in Prae : Wat Changkhum; in Nan: Wat Suandok, Wat Phra Singh; in Chiangmai: Wat
Srichoomkaew Kwanghuaviang; in Lampang : Wat Pa Ampawan; Muang Rahang in Tak. Furthermore, he
went to the neighboring countries, to Wat Vichunaraj in Luang Prabang - Laos, for instance. Wherever
he went, he sorted out and put together the Tripitaka (Buddhist scripture), scriptures and engraved them
onto the Balan leaves. He kept part of the Balan leaves at Wat Soongmen and they are still there until
the present days.
The Moral Value - the Owner of the Culture
The Lanna literature inscription at Wat Soongmen is in such a big number, recorded as follows :
โ€2567 bundles, tied in 8845 jades, in 85,000 Balan leaves, all in Bali; 486 bundles on discipline and on
Angkor Wat, 89 bundles on Mudmee and 14,800 wrapped in Balan leaves. The 2567 bundles of Bali
commentaries are composed of Buggaji Bali, Mugabeโ€s recipe, Pali custard, Pali junction, Bali Singh, scramble,
junction and Dharma.โ€ The Wat Soongmen inscription has been continuously compiled by various means,
one of which is the โ€Takkhamโ€ tradition.
3300
