Wat
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- This article is about the Southeast Asian temple; for the Ethiopian dish, see Wat (food); for the Japanese pop duo, see WaT
A wat is a temple in Cambodia, Laos or Thailand. The word "wat" (sometimes rendered "vat" when referring to Laos) means "school." Strictly speaking a wat is a Buddhist temple and school with resident monks. A Buddhist site without resident monks cannot correctly be described as a wat, although the term is frequently used more loosely, even for ruins of ancient temples.
In everyday language in Thailand a wat is any place of worship except a mosque. Thus wat cheen is a Chinese temple (either Buddhist or Taoist), wat khaek is a Hindu temple, and wat kris or wat krit is a Chistian church.
A typical Buddhist wat consists of the following buildings:
- chedi - (from Sanskrit: Chaitya - Temple) usually conical or bell-shaped buildings, often containing relics of Buddha;
- viharn or wihaan (from Sanskrit: vihara) - a meeting and prayer room;
- mondhop (from Sanskrit: Mandapa) - the library;
- sala (from Portuguese for "hall") - a pavilion for relaxation or miscellaneous activities; Could also be from Sanskrit: Shala - School)
- bot or ubosoth - the most holy prayer room, also called the "ordination hall" as it is where new monks take their vows. Architecturally it is similar to the vihara; the main differences are the eight cornerstones placed around the bot to ward off evil. The bot is usually more decorated than the viharn. (from Pali: Uposatha)
The living quarters of the monks are separated from the sacred buildings.
Some well-known wats include:
- Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Wat Suthat, Bangkok
- Wat Benchamabophit
- Wat Ratchanadda
- Wat Phra Kaew
- Pha That Luang
- Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang
- Wat Bowonniwet, Bangkok
