Thai Wat - Wat Jed Yod

The Thai Wat, Wat Jed Yod, the Temple of the 7 Spires, in Chiang Mai dates back to the 15th Century. This Thai Wat is one of the oldest in Chiang Mai.

King Tilokarat built Wat Jed Yod for Phra Uthamapanya Mahathera, a revered Monk. Located on the Chiang Mai – Lampang superhighway, Wat Jed Yod is set in a large grass covered area. Wat Jed Yod is a fairly large Thai Wat but unfortunately some of the buildings are showing the ravages of time. However, on the rectangular building with the 7 spires on its top, can be seen some outstanding sculptures which still retain an amazing amount of detail.

Wat Jed Yod loosely resembles the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya where the Lord Buddha obtained enlightenment. The 7 spires at Wat Jed Yod represent the seven holy places associated with the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment. King Tilokarat also planted a Bodhi tree in the grounds of the Temple, which is the reason why Wat Jed Yod also has the more formal name of Wat Potharam Maha Vihara.

In 1477, the 8th Buddhist World Council was convened for the first time ever in Thailand at Wat Yed Yod to discuss the 1st revision of the Tripitaka which took one year to complete. After King Tilokarat died in 1487, he was cremated in a golden coffin and his ashes were interred in a large Chedi at Wat Jed Yod, built by his nephew, Phya Yod Chiangrai who succeeded him on the throne of the Kingdom of Lanna.

Wat Jed Yot Is the Temple associated with the Year of the Snake in The Thai Zodiac