Giant Swing

{{see also | Sanskritisation | Greater India | Hinduism in Southeast Asia | Buddhism in Southeast Asia}}

File:Giant Swing 1.jpg (left).]]

The Giant Swing was constructed in 1784 in front of the Devasathan shrine by King Rama I. During the reign of Rama II, the swing ceremony was discontinued as the swing had become structurally damaged by lightning. In 1920, it was renovated and moved to its current location in order to make space for a gas plant. The ceremony was again performed until 1935, when it was discontinued after several fatal accidents.

The last renovations were done in 1959, and after 45 years of exposure to the elements, the wooden pillars were showing signs of serious damage. A major reconstruction began in April 2005. Six teak tree trunks were used. The two used for the main structure of the swing are over 3.5 m in circumference and over 30m in height. The remaining four are used for support and have a circumference of 2.30 metres and a height of 20 metres.{{Cite web |url=http://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000067781 |title=จากไม้ป่าสู่ “เสาชิงช้า” ตั้งตระหง่านคู่กรุงรัตนโกสินทร์ |trans-title=From forest wood to “Giant Swing”, towering along the Rattanakosin capital |lang=th |access-date=18 December 2006 |archive-date=28 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228102601/http://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000067781 |url-status=dead }} The swing was taken down in late October 2006 and the work finished in December of the same year. The rebuilt swing was dedicated in royal ceremonies presided over by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in September 2007. The timbers of the original swing are preserved in the Bangkok National Museum.

In 2005, the Giant Swing, together with Wat Suthat, was proposed as a future UNESCO World Heritage site.

file:Giant Swing.jpg]]

{{main|Wat Suthat}}

Wat Suthat Thep Wararam, commonly shortened to "Wat Suthat", is an important temple in Thailand. Inside the grand hall is a Phra Sri Sagaya Munee, its principal Buddha image, which was acquired from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai. Wat Suthat was built by King Rama I in the center of his capital, but it was completed in the reign of Rama III.ThammaThai "WatSuthat" Retrieved 19 October 2013, [http://www.dhammathai.org/watthai/bangkok/watsutat.php], 2013 Many people often make pilgrimages to worship the Buddha, especially on holy days such as Visakha Bucha Day and Magha Bucha Day.

{{main|Tiger God Shrine}}

In the quarter there is also a well-known and high regarded Chinese shrine, Sarn Choa Po Seu ('tiger shrine'). Originally it was a building on Bamrungmueng Road, where the big Chinese communities were. Later, King Rama V expanded the road and had the shrine relocated to the current location on Ta Nao Road, near WatMahanaparam.Travel "PaiWaiSarnJaoPorSeu" Retrieved 19 October 2013, [http://travel.kapook.com/view8796.html], 2013 The site is a place of worship for Thai and Chinese people seeking success in career, money, love, and infant fertility.

Built in 1834, during the reign of King Rama III, the Tiger God Shrine is one of the most ancient and famous shrines in Thailand. Moreover, this shrine has beautiful interior design and has some antiquities. Most people come to pay respect to "Tua Lao Aie", a Chinese God to have good fortune, especially on Chinese New Year's Day.ศาลเจ้าพ่อเสือ Retrieved 17 April 2017, [http://chaoporseua.blogspot.com/], 2017

At the heart of the quarter is LanKonMueng, in front of city hall. Every morning and evening, this is the recreational area of the locals, where they can exercise such as dance aerobics, jogging, stroll around, gather or just relax, bring children or pets out for a walk, and enjoy the breeze.Travel "Sao ching cha" Retrieved 18 October 2013, [http://www.manager.co.th/travel/viewnews.aspx?NewsID=9560000034732], 2013

{{Main|Devasathan}}

The Devasathan Shrine is the most important religious and ancient place for Hindus in Thailand. It was built in 1784 CE, during the reign of King Rama I. According to ancient tradition, it was built for holding officiating religious ceremonies in the past. Devasathan Shrine has many important sanctuaries: the Shiva and Parvati Shrine, the Brahma and Sarasvati Shrine, the Ganesha and Siddhi Shrine, and the Vishnu and Lakshmi Shrine.เทวสถาน Retrieved 17 April 2017, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20171122092015/http://www.devasthan.org/newweb/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2]}}, 2017

The small temple of Lord Vishnu on Unakan Road, beside of Wat Suthat, was built in 1982, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Rattanakosin, by the Indian-Thai Chamber of Commerce Association as a sign of the good relations between Thailand and India. The idol of Vishnu was brought from India.{{cite web|url=https://siamrath.co.th/n/1449|title=กทม.จัดบวงสรวงใหญ่34ปี"พระวิษณุ"|language=th|date=2016-08-17|access-date=2020-05-19|work=Siam Rath|trans-title=BKK organized a large tribute for 34 years”Lord Vishnu”}}

{{main|Triyampawai ceremony}}

File:The Swinging Festival.png

An annual swinging ceremony known as Triyampavai-Tripavai was held at Giant Swings of major cities until 1935, when it was abolished for safety reasons.{{cite book |author=M. E. Manickavasagam Pillai |title=Dravidian Influence in Thai Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=soFCAAAAYAAJ |year=1986 |publisher=Tamil University |page=69 }} The name of the ceremony was derived from the names of two Tamil language Hindu chants: Thiruvempavai (a Shaivite hymn by Manikkavacakar) and Thiruppavai (a Vaishnavite hymn by Andal). Among Thai people, the ceremony was popularly known as Lo Jin Ja ("pulling the swing"). It is known that Tamil verses from Thiruvempavai — Sivalaya Vasal Thirappu ("opening the portals of Shiva's home") — were recited at this ceremony and verses from Tirupavai, as well as the coronation ceremony of the Thai king and queen.{{cite book |author=Upendra Thakur |title=Some Aspects of Asian History and Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m42TldA_OvAC&pg=PA27 |year=1986 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-81-7017-207-9 |pages=27–28 }} As said by T.P. Meenakshisundaram, the name of the festival shows that Thiruppavai has been recited as well.{{cite book |title=Consider Our Vow: Translation of Tiruppāvai and Tiruvempāvai Into English |author=Norman Cutler |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2fMOAAAAMAAJ |year=1979 |publisher=Muttu Patippakam |page=13 }}

According to ancient Hindu mythology, after Brahma created the world he sent Shiva to look after it. When Shiva descended to the earth, Naga serpents wrapped around the mountains in order to keep the earth in place. After Shiva found the earth solid, the Nagas moved to the seas in celebration and made the earth stable completely. The Swing Ceremony was a re-enactment of this. The pillars of the Giant Swing represented the mountains, while the circular base of the swing represented the earth and the seas. In the ceremony Brahamanas would swing, trying to grab a bag of coins placed on one of the pillars.

The Giant Swing is featured in the video games Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Bangkok Rush racecourse.

• The appearance of the Giant Swing is sometimes confused with unrelated gate structures in other Asian cultures:
• Hongsalmun, gate in Korean architecture
• Iljumun, first gate of Korean Buddhist temple
• Paifang, Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure
• Shanmen, gate of Chinese Buddhist temple
• Tam quan, gate of Vietnamese temple
• Torii, Japanese gate found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine
• Sam Yot MRT station

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sao Chingcha}}

• {{Osmway|178353988}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130327163733/http://bangkoktourist.com/theme_6/attraction_detail.asp?lang=en&id_attraction_detail=35 Information from the Bangkok Tourism Division]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070227234509/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=114548&date=2005-04-17 Newspaper article on the 2005 restoration]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090623224317/http://brahmin.siamfoundation.org/thai/?page_id=242 Brahminism in Thailand]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050505232803/http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/MassTransit/giantswing.shtml 2Bangkok on the 2005 renovation]

{{Visitor attractions in Bangkok}}

{{Coord|13|45|7|N|100|30|5|E|type:landmark_region:TH-10|display=title}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Bangkok

Category:Hindu studies

Category:Phra Nakhon district

Category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok

Category:Road junctions in Bangkok

Category:Tourist attractions in Bangkok