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.Tourism - History |
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| Sao Ching Cha is the imposing
red swing in front of Wat Suthat, commissioned
in 1784 by King Rama I. A symbol of the God
Shiva, the Giant Swing hasn't actually been
used since the beginning of the 20th century
- and for a very good reason ! |
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http://www.bangkok-thailand.org |
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| Sao Ching Cha in front of
Wat Suthat on Bamrung Muang road, Bangkok
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.Sao Ching Cha, the Giant Swing |
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>> Sao Ching Cha represents
the movement of the God Shiva and its usage
was reserved purely for a spectacular game
performed at grand ceremonies. Due to the
danger and number of victims this performance
produced each year the tradition was discontinued.
Nowadays the red wooden frame is all that's
left of this ceremonial apparatus along with
the memories and stories of the deadly game.
Young Brahmans, in teams of four would swing
to the height of 25m from the ground in an
attempt to grab bags of coins placed on top
of the posts with their teeth. In the euphoria
of this event, dedicated to the God Shiva
and the zealous excesses of trying to be the
most skilful, some of the intrepid young men
would fall to their death. All traditions
have their limits and this ceremony was finally
abolished in 1935.
Let not the end of this age old celebration
deter followers of fine art from discovering
Wat Suthat. Especially when the temple holds
within its walls the largest wihan in Bangkok
(Rattanakosin style - beginning of 19th c.)
a door carved by King Rama II himself and
an impressive collection of Buddha images
amongst other things. (/LA) |
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Version française de
cet article 
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| Tourism
in Bangkok |
Vimanmek,
The
Teak
Palace 
Musée:
La maison
de Jim
Thompson
Musée:
Les barges
royales de
Thaïlande
Golden Mount: panoramique
sur
Bangkok
Wat Suthat, the largest
wihan in Bangkok
 Sao
Ching Cha, the Giant
Swing in Bangkok
Wat Arun,
the Temple
of
Dawn
Wat Pho: le + vieux et le + grand de Bangkok
Impressive
Wat
Phra
Kaew
Wat Benchama
Bophit, le
Temple de
Marbre
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