I've seen this structure many times before but did not know why it was built this way. To me it shows a strong Indian influence because of its unusual shape. There is no where else you could find this style in Laos.
I've seen this structure many times before but did not know why it was built this way. To me it shows a strong Indian influence because of its unusual shape. There is no where else you could find this style in Laos.
That Makmo was built by King Visounnarath inside Wat Visoun, LuangPrabang. They build this "THAT" uncompleted construction, only half way done from the bottom up. History told that King Visounnarath pass away before completed done build. No one know how a top portion need to be done and name of it by the King. They burned all King's project drawing of this stupa with his corp during his funeral. His son, Prince Phothisarath, wants to finish for his father, and again couldn't see any sign of what his father need to done. One day, he sat a side of Nam Khane river, a gardener walked by with a basket of watermelon. Inside that basket has 3 watermelons in the bottom layer and 1 on top center of those 3. He took structure of those watermelons to be the top portion of his father stupa, but he took only 1 watermelon put on top of "THAT" and he created name "THAT MAK MO" since then. Prine Phothisarath offered his father name for building and naming of this stupa. King Phothisarath rebuilt this stupa and wat Visounnarath after got destoyed from Burmese army and his victory over the conflict of Burma and Lane Xang.
Very interesting story. But the actual history does not say the stupa is supposed to represent a watermelon. I think they are just made up stories passed down orally.
However, it is true that king Visounarath built Wat Visoun in 1500 to 1513. At the same time, the stupa was commissioned by a queen named Nang Phantin Xieng and she named the stupa "That Pathum" which means Lotus stupa. No one knows why the queen chose to built in this extraordinary design rather than the typical Lao "That Luang" like style.
Some people claimed that the stupa has an elegant, feminine beauty form, and often compares to a beautiful woman.
