Wat Phumin

Wat Phumin is a royal temple, located within the compound of the old city called Tambon Nai Wiang at present. It is next to the Nan National Museum. In accordance with the Nan Chronicle, Phrachao Chettabut Phrommin, a Nan ruler, constructed the temple after he had governed Nan for 6 years in 1596. It appears in the Northern Scripture that the temple was originally called "Wat Phrommin" but Three hundred years later, Wat Phumin was under grand renovation
during the reign of King Ananta Woraritthidet in 1867 (at the end of the reign of King Rama IV). The renovation took 7 years. The mural paintings in the main assembly hall were painted during this period.
The mural paintings or "Hup Taem" in Wat Phumin depict the Buddhist Jataka stories. However, considering the depiction of the lifestyles of the people in town during that time, there are many interesting pictures such as “Yu Khuang Tradition” of the Thai Lue people. Parents will allow the youngsters to meet at the courtyard outside their house during dusk, while the girl was spinning cotton or "Yu Khuang". If the girl agreed to get married, the ceremony would be organised called “Ao Kham Pai Pong Kan” or meaning to become part of the same family. Trades within the Community is a painting of the local or the hill-tribe people doing “Poe” or carrying the merchandise from the forest on their heads and exchanging them with the town people.
The Pu Man - Ya Man Painting is honoured as the most beautiful one at Wat Phumin. There is a usage of large pools of red, blue, black, and dark brown colours similar to contemporary paintings. The Lifestyle of the Nan people depicts a woman weaving with a local loom.
Outside the traditional Thai house stands a small shelter where there are earthen water pots called "Ran Nam". Men in this painting have a traditional Thai hairstyle called Lak Chaeo or Mahatthai presenting the western influence combining with the local lifestyle of Nan. The foreigners present those who came into Nan during the reign of King Rama V. Their hair and costume reflect the popular styles in Europe during that time.
The distinguishing point of this temple is its 4-portico building, the only one in Thailand which seems to be standing on the back of 2 Nagas. This building serves as the 3-in-1 ubosot, vihara and the main chedi. The east-west axis is a vihara, while the north-south one is the ubosot. The Royal Thai Government once printed the picture of Wat Phumin on the 1-Baht banknote during World War II. Moreover, the Ancient City in Samut Prakan has constructed a replica of this vihara as a display within its compound. [Source: TAT]

Ayutthaya Historical Research