Why Are Temples And Buddhas Placed On Hilltops

[justsignedin]

Hi Guys,

It seems like most towns in Thailand have a Buddha or a temple placed on a hilltop, is there a reason for them being on the hilltop ?. Spent hours googling this, the best I came up with was Buddha's journey to up a hill above Mandalay, and mentions of Buddha being carried up a hill by a White Elephant.

[fabianfred]

Revered things are placed high to show respect for them. Dhamma books and images are never placed upon the floor where they might be kicked or stepped over.

Also on hill-tops they are visible from afar.

[Brucenkhamen]

I haven't noticed this at all, the towns in thailand I've been in are mostly flat.

Forest wats are often on hills because forests are often on hills, but they don't usually overlook towns as they are intentionally remote.

I think it might have something to do with thev region you are located in, the North i'm guessing.

[Jawnie]

Fabianfred: I generally agree with you on this. But, I've attended a number of Theravada events in Bangkok attended by lots of Thais and a few monks who chanted from Thai-language prayer manuals. Nearly everyone placed their books on the floor, stepped over them, and were otherwise not respectful as you indicate. These were for the most part lay groups, like, at DMG in Amari. This was really odd to me since literally all the Tibetan dharma events I attended in the US over many years, students never did this and the lamas and monks were always consistent and quick to remind students when infractions occurred.

Revered things are placed high to show respect for them. Dhamma books and images are never placed upon the floor where they might be kicked or stepped over.

Also on hill-tops they are visible from afar.

[justsignedin]

Thanks for the replies so far, Fabianfred, the point about reverence never even crossed my mind, I was thinking maybe it is symbolic of a phase in the life of Buddha, reverence certainly seems to make sense.

If I could be more specific, I'm more interested in the reason why the Buddha Statues are on hilltops, I recently visited the Buddha on the hill at Pattaya, it crossed my mind that whilst traveling around Thailand I have noticed many similar Buddha statues on a hilltop or high on a hillside.

I was writing a post for my blog about the Buddha on the hill, and I thought it would nice to explain why the Buddha is on the hilltop.

[IMA_FARANG]

I'm not really sure, but I don't think there is any deep and hidden meaning in the location of Wats and such.

I suspect it has more to do with the practical aspect of flat land being needed for cultivation, and since hills were not really suited to that; it seemed logical that the best place to put the Wat was on a hill, since you couldn't really grow rice easily on the hill anyhow.

Probably also nobody really had to ask where the Wat was also...it was obviously up there on the hill for everyone to see.

I would guess also, that at least in times past...if the Burmese or Cambodian armies were coming, everyone knew where to go for safety...it was plainly visable right up there on the hill...the Wat.

Basically that is the same reason that in Europe fuedal Castles were often built up on the hills...so everyone could clearly see where they were.

[Jawnie]

Without a definitive or scripture answer, a lot of this is speculation. Often geomancy will play a role in where a temple, stupa, statue, etc. is placed. It could also be for the visual appeal and so that the structure can be seen from the distance. Quite possibly, if it's true that many Thai temples are on hills, maybe its just cooler on a hill, ie., a better breeze (but also more direct sunlight). Maybe there's not a better use for the hill with respect to the rest of the temple property - I know of a temple in the US that was squeezed into a corner of the property to get the best us of the rest of the property. Or, maybe patrons asked that the temple be placed on a hill. Lots of possibilities. If it's a Buddha statue, it's probably for the visual appeal. Also, visitors to the statue will have a view from the hilltop (which may have a meditation garden with a view), an unobstructed view, which is beneficial for the mind through elimination of the immediately surrounding visual "clutter" leaving the mind free to open to the landscape, earth, and sky.

[nidge]

I don't know why they do it either, but i think it looks nice. One of the reasons i bought my current house is because if this view from my front garden.

[Samuian]

I don't have any figures, but I think I generally have to agree, as another poster wrote, many are NOT on hilltops but simply somewhere near a community, some are even"hidden" away in remote areas.... some temples are purpose build for the community to assamble, socialize, some are exceptional for pilgrimage, some are build in honor of yxz, as rememberance shrine of deceased, of well to do citizens, of an lucky event, a lottery draw....... some are simply the result of the works of one monk or a community of monks.. it's the same with many cathedrals and other religious buidings in the western world...

[Atmos]

very geography-dependent; from our days living on the plains of Sa Kaeo (and they are very plain) wats are more likely to be alongside a lake/river, as there are simply no hills; now in coastal Chanthaburi and again determined by the landscape, two near us are on hills (are rare feature) rest tend to be where there is water - though simple sense here as villages are more likely to be near a ready source of water.

[khaowong1]

There is a famous saying in the U.S. concerning real estate... LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION

[Mirth]

Hi Guys,

It seems like most towns in Thailand have a Buddha or a temple placed on a hilltop, is there a reason for them being on the hilltop ?. Spent hours googling this, the best I came up with was Buddha's journey to up a hill above Mandalay, and mentions of Buddha being carried up a hill by a White Elephant.

The serenity. Hilltops are the most quiet place until it's commercialised. Another reason is some people believe that if they have a huge statue of Buddha sitting on the hilltop, the place he overlooks have his blessings. Am more a believer to the 1st compared to the latter. Hilltops are pretty serene cos there's really no traffic, not even the sound of humans unless one is talking to you.

[SICHONSTEVE]

I'm not really sure, but I don't think there is any deep and hidden meaning in the location of Wats and such.

I suspect it has more to do with the practical aspect of flat land being needed for cultivation, and since hills were not really suited to that; it seemed logical that the best place to put the Wat was on a hill, since you couldn't really grow rice easily on the hill anyhow.

Probably also nobody really had to ask where the Wat was also...it was obviously up there on the hill for everyone to see.

I would guess also, that at least in times past...if the Burmese or Cambodian armies were coming, everyone knew where to go for safety...it was plainly visable right up there on the hill...the Wat.

Basically that is the same reason that in Europe fuedal Castles were often built up on the hills...so everyone could clearly see where they were.

I disagree with your premis that feudal castles are built on hills so that everyone can see them. They are situated on hills to make access difficult to achieve and slow the foe down so that the fortress occupiers can prevent an attack more easily and fend/pick them off from above. Carrying ladders and weapons is also much more of a challenge when having to climb a steep hill just as a moat creates a physical barrier, so security and deterrence are dramatically increased on account of their chosen location at the top of a hill.

Edited May 29, 2011 by SICHONSTEVE

[healthcaretaker]

Given a choice, obviously on top and not at the bottom.

All the Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh are on hill-tops or higher grounds except for one.

The same applies to palaces, castles and even a throne, it's always higher than the floor.

For layman's explaination, one always feel better at the top.

If I use my science and energy-related theory to explain, most of you will not agree and some may challenge me by asking which website or where I find it. You may not get to see them in this life time.

How it affects the mind ? Experience yourself :jap:

[Lickey]

Here are some views from the front and back of our house top floor, A Wat not exactly on a hill, and a Temple in the water,,

Namsom, 100ks NW of Udon Thani.

[RickThai]

I think fabianfred's response is probably the closest to the truth for the Thai wats. Things of reverence are ususally placed in higher position than then things that are less reverenced.

I agree castles were placed on hilltops more as a defensive stategy as much as anything else, but travel the world and you will find that throughout history religous buildings were often situated on the highest land around. I've seen this with Catholic monasterys, and early Greek and Roman temples.

There are also probably asethic and symbolic elements of rising above the general condition (or plane) of human life in the placement of some temples/holy sites. I'm sure some scholars have published information on this phenomona.

With Deep Respect To All,

RickThai