Wat Xiengmouane, Luang Prabang

The sim of Wat Xiengmouane, Luang Prabang.

Wat Xiengmouane, whose name means "Monastery of Melodious Sounds", is another small Laotian monastery on Sotika Kuman Road, one of the roads the run parallel to the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in Luang Prabang. Its name is also written as Wat Xiengmouane Vajiramangalaram, Wat Xieng Mouane, Vat Xieng Mouane and Wat Sieng Mouan. Located next to Wat Choum Khong, it is one of the monasteries I visited in Luang Prabang.

Wat Xiengmouane founded by Phragna Sisonxay in 1865, during the reign of King Chantarath (1851-72). In the beginning, it was called Monastery of Melodious Sounds, due to the harmonious sounds of its gongs. Later on, it was given another nickname, Monastery of Joyous town.

The sim of Wat Xiengmouane has a two-tier roof, one porch and triple nave. It originally had three windows, but more were added during the restoration in 1964. Within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane are several stupas and chapels.

There is also a vocational school within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane. This school was started by Unesco and funded by a grant from the government of Norway. Its purpose is to teach the novice monks the traditional arts and crafts such as lacquer work, stencilling, painting, glass mosaic, wood carving, sculpture and other ornamental works for the Laotian temples. Some of the handiwork of the students are on display in one of the rooms.

A chapel and a couple of stupas in the compound of Wat Xiengmouane.

A vocational school for novices at Wat Xiengmouane.

Some of the works of the novices.

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