Page:Golden pavilion at Wat Sai - Damrong - 1921.pdf/2

 The lower part exposed t o the sun and rain has lost its gilding, and has been repainted. The original rafters remain, but only one of the carved frames remains. Inside the pavilion the walls are whitewashed with "Phum Khao Binda" designs in colour, and it is doubtful whether they were not made at the time when the lower part was repaired.

The Priests say that the original pests were painted in similar to the outside walls. The partition walls that still remain are painted in gold like the outside walls. There are two doorways in the partition wall, having the doors painted with figures of Devas in gold, but they appear to be the handiwork of Bangkok craftsmen who repaired the lower part. The style of the pavillionpavilion [sic] is as related above, and on examination it seems certain that it was a pavilion built by some King or other. This type of structure called a golden pavilion, other people may not build for their own use, or if it be built, it is as an offering to the Temple such as a shrine for the Image of the Buddha or a library for the sacred texts, for it is not customary for other people to make a golden pavillionpavilion [sic] as a building for the use of the priests or as a Sala. There is a reference to this matter in the history of the First Reign of the present dynasty. H. M. Rāma I considered that a recompense should be made for the injury inflicted by the King of Thonburi on Somdech Phrasangkharat Si for refusing to pay homage, and so was pleased to pull down the golden pavillionpavilion [sic] of the King of Thonburi, and to set it up again to be the residence of the said Phrasangkharat and to be a mark of honour to him. Thus it can be seen how in ancient times a golden pavilion was a mark of great honour. A coloured pavilion only was the mark of a Prince of the Royal Family, as for example the pavilions of the elder sisters of Rāma I, were merely called the green and the red pavilions. Thus from what has been said there can be no possible doubt but that the golden pavilion at Wat Sai was built by a King.

(2)The villagers in that district say that this pavilion wvas the pavilion of King Khun Luang Süa. There is a strange historical allusion to this in the royal history to the effect that Somedech Phra Naresuan Maharat liked to journey to the Gulf going down to the place Tanot Luaug in the district of Petchaburi. For the journey at