Bell tower (wat)

Bell tower at Wat Phra Kaew, within the precincts of the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Bell tower (Thai: หอระฆัง; RTGS: ho rakhang) is one category of the Thai architectural structure in a wat for signaling the monks to do their praying ceremony.

Type of structure

• Wood
• Masonry
• Reinforced Concrete
• Composite

Shape

• Square
• Hexagonal
• Octagonal
• Circle

Roof styles

• Gable with Thai classical ornament
• Mondop
• Tetrahedron
• Pavilion Crown
• Thai Crown
• Chedi (bell-shaped)
• Prang
• Thai castle superstructure ornament
• Western, Chinese or other architectural style
• Combination

Buddhism’s meaning, symbol and philosophy

• Wake up, attained the Truth and feeling of Peacefulness.

External links

• Thai Architecture
• Buddhist Art: Architecture Pt.1
• Wat Phra Kaew’s Bell Tower
• Wat Pho’s Bell Tower
• Wat Samrong’s Bell Tower

References

• Karl Döhring, Buddhist Temples of Thailand: An Architectonic Introduction, White Lotus Press, 2000. ISBN 974-7534-40-1