EAP177/8/1/736

The old Sim of Vat Nong.Vat Nong the old name is Vat Sikhounmouang was built by Nai Chao Hang (the same person who was built Vat Saen) it was built in C.S.1091, B.E.2272 ( C.E.1792) with wooden poles and wooden roof in the Kingdom of Phra Chao Ongnok. Afterwards Phier Poumloum from Ban Khoam Sila had been trading at Muang Xiengsaen, He brought a bronze Buddha image with 100.000 g. then placed them on a bamboo raft, floated it along the Mekong arrived Khoam Sila waterfront and they row a boat to the bank but it wasn't stop at there.Then they row a boat to get off the boat at Ban Vat Nong waterfront, Phia Poumloum brought that bronze Buddha image to locate at Vat Nong Sikhounmouang. During the Kingdom of King Phra Chao Souriyavongsa in C.S.1136,B.E.2317 (C.E.1774) in 13th waxing moon day of 5th month of Lao calendar on departure day of the Lao old year. It had worst day as fire a house from Ban Heu Xieng to Ban Pak Khan throught of Vat Nong Sikhounmouang but yellow robe wear a bronze Buddha image it wasn't burnt. So, monks and novices, Villagers of Ban Vat Nong can see the secret of the Buddha. Then they hold up Buddha watering ceremony and called the bronze Buddha image is the secret Phra Chao Ong Saen and placed to locate at the present of Vat Sikham Khounmouang (The old of Vat Sikham Khounmouang in C.E.1963). later on Villagers don't want to call with long name, they called only Vat Nong. Then villagers of Ban Vat Nong help each other built Kuti(monk's cell) covered a pond in the back of Sim to offer for monks and novices of Vat Nong. Afterwards a archaeologist known that Vat and Ban called Nong is not auspiciousness, So, they fill up with earth to covered the pond and gave the name as Sikhounmouang but name of Vat Nong and Ban Vat Nong they would like call as the same. In the past the bank area of Vat Nong there are house of soldier of the king stated around it and also Somdet Chao Maha Ouparath Bounkhong when he were a children he also ordinate be a novice at this temple, During he were a monk he built the Lao national pattern of bee put in front of the three door. and also villagers of Ban Vat Nong are rich with their merchandising because they had the secret of Phra Chao Ong Saen for worship but the watering ceremony of Phra Cahao Ong Saen they don't do so many years, because they afraid of error of sin, Since Sathou Norkeo was abbot and he pass away then unknown monk was abbot then he leave from a monk to be a common people and Pha Khamdee replace abbot and pass away in C.S.1313, B.E.1951 is Sathou Nyai Phoummy Phalappatto to be a committee of the north area of the monk in C.S.1315,B.E.2496 (C.E.1953). It is so pleasure of cooperating as committee of this area, monks and novices throught villager of Ban Vat Nong help each other support Vat Nong beautiful as present. (the information from Story book of temples in Luang Prabang written by Chao Khammanh Vongkotrattana). In C.E.1963, Sathou Phoummy Phalappatto and sathou Nyai Ounheuan Hasapanyo, the two brother monks and monks and novices throuth villagers of Ban Vat Nong built the new Sim of Vat Nong covered the old Sim then make it wide a little and pouring with cement and the roof with tiltes , Sathou Nyai Phoummy Phalapatto pas away on 11th June in 1995. Sathou Nyai Khamsao Soupharo is pupil was abbot in Vat Nong until now (C.E.2007)

Original material consists of: silver gelatine DOP print