Sao Chingcha, Religious structure in Old City, Thailand
Sao Chingcha is a 21-meter-tall wooden structure made of two red teak pillars standing at the intersection in front of Wat Suthat temple in Bangkok's Old City. The pillars are connected by a crossbeam, forming a gateway that rises against the sky and is visible from the street.
King Rama I ordered the construction in 1784 to allow ceremonies at this location. The structure was renewed several times, with a complete reconstruction in 2007 to preserve it in its current form.
The name refers to a Brahmin ceremony where participants swung at great heights to catch suspended bags of gold coins. This practice ended in the 20th century, but the two red wooden pillars remain as a silent reminder of that religious tradition.
The structure stands at an open street intersection in the old city center and is freely accessible at any time. A visit can easily be combined with Wat Suthat temple directly opposite, as both locations are next to each other.
The original wooden components from 1784 are now kept at Bangkok National Museum and can be viewed there. Visitors who see the structure today are looking at a reproduction, while the historic beams are displayed separately.
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