Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine, Saphan Lueang

Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine, Saphan Lueang

Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine (Thai: ศาลเจ้าแม่ทับทิม; Chinese: 天后聖母宮; pinyin: Tiānhòu shèngmǔ gōng) also known as the Mazu Shrine, is a historic shrine in the Saphan Lueang neighborhood of Pathum Wan District, Bangkok.^[1][2]

Description

Located near Sam Yan on land owned by Chulalongkorn University, the shrine is expected to be demolished by the university to build a condominium on the site.^[3][4][5]

The Office of Property Management, Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) is engaged in a legal dispute with the shrine's community and is seeking to evict the shrine's caretaker, Penprapa Ployseesuay.^[1][6]

The Last Breath of Sam Yan

The student-led fight to preserve the shrine was the subject of the 2023 Thai documentary The Last Breath of Sam Yan, directed by Prempapat Plittapolkranpim and produced by Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal.^[7] This documentary was nominated and won for “The Best Documentary Film” at the 2023 Suphannahong Awards, presented by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations on September 30, 2024.^[8]

References

1. Ratcliffe, Rebecca (2023-06-27). "'Here is the history, the life': the shrine holding out against the gentrification of Bangkok". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
2. "The last stand for Chao Mae Thap Thim". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
3. "Sam Yan shows need to save history". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
4. "Thai students document fight against 'unjust' shrine demolition". Times Higher Education (THE). 2024-10-05. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
5. "The Last Breath of Sam Yan wins Suphannahong Award | Prachatai English". prachataienglish.com. 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
6. "A vanishing heritage". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
7. "Low-budget student documentary wins Thailand's top prize". nationthailand. 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
8. "Democracy to heritage: Activist Netiwit hailed for 'Last Bre". world.thaipbs.or.th. Retrieved 2024-12-23.