The Giant Swing - Thai Heritage Monument

The 'Giant Swing' has a long standing in Thailand's history since Bangkok - the city of angels was established as the country Royal capital over 200 years ago.

According to the Bangkok historical archive, it said 'the Giant Swing' was built according to the lunar calendar on Wednesday, the 5th month, the 4th day of the waning moon, the year of Big Snake, which fell on 8 April 1784. Initially His Majesty King Rama I ordered a construction of a shrine that was believed to house the divine entities according to Hinduism, and at the same occasion to build a 'Giant Swing' for the Triyampavai ceremony which held in the 12th month of the year annually since the time of Sukhothai till Ratanakosin era.

The original Giant Swing was built on a open site north of Wat Suthasvararam. But during the reign of King Rama V it was moved to the present site which is located right in front of Wat Sutasvararam.

Triyampavai ceremony was the New Year celebration of the Bhraman religious sect. It was believed that the ceremony was to welcome the Issuan Diety who visited the earth in the first month of the lunar year which falls in December.

Later in the Ratanakosin era, the ceremony was moved to the second month of the lunar year which is January. The main highlight of the ceremony was the 'Lo Chingcha' (swinging of the Giant Swing). According to the Thai custom, during the ceremony there were many activities on going, such as merit making by monk chanting and offering, cutting of children's bundle hair (Jook), blessing of worship statues or amulets, and fun fair.

Later in recent history, the swinging of the Giant Swing ceremony was terminated in the reign of King Rama VII. But the Giant Swing has been conserved as sacred structure of the Bangkok city till today. Because of its long years and decaying, the Bangkok Municipality organized a grand ceremony to renovate the Giant Swing on 12 September 2007 by using 6 gold teak trees from Prae province to replace the old poles. The first pole is 99 years old and the second one is 120 years old.

The Bangkok City Administrative Body has also grafted and reproduced saplings of the 6 gold teak trees for distribution to farmers and the public to replant in place of the fallen trees.