Wat Muai To

Wat Muai To (Wat Hua Wieng stood on the same premises) was abandoned until around 1854, a group of people led by Luang Jong Jai reconstructed the temple premises and built a sermon hall. Wat Muai Tor became the first temple of Khun Yuam. During WW II the monastery was used as headquarters of the remnants of the 56th IJA Division (The Dragon Division), which was nearly completely annihilated in Longling Western Yunnan and removed from the front line in October 1944. The 56th Japanese Division withdrew from Burma to keep guard of the Toungoo - Chiang Mai Route with 11.000 soldiers under the command of General Yuzo Matsuyama. The division was ordered to set up HQ at Khun Yuam with the aim to protect the City of Chiang Mai and the plan to use Khun Yuam as a stronghold to re-seize Toungoo from the Allied Forces. Wat Muai Tor served as well as the main field hospital for the Japanese soldiers. Death soldiers were buried on the north-side of the temple, were today stand the WW II Museum and the Sport stadium. Most graves were excavated in 1967 to conduct a religious ritual.

Ayutthaya Historical Research