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There are many sacred aspects of the temples in Laos, and among the most revered are the finial gables, fingerlike hooks that protect the temple from malevolent spirits in the sky.
The main temple hall, known as the sim, is traditionally adorned with finial gables or yotxorfa, which safeguard them from evil spirits.
The finial gable on Ongteu temple has three levels, representing Buddha, monks and morality.
Whenever a temple is under construction, a ceremony is performed to hoist the finial gable into position when the sim is almost finished, giving devotees the chance to pray and make merit.
Buddhists believe that attending a hoisting ceremony or donating towards the construction of the finial gable will earn them much merit.
During the ceremony, merit-makers listen to monks chanting, and make offerings of flowers and incense around the finial gable, to pay homage to Buddha, the monks, and morality.
Later in the day, a temple will hold an almsgiving ceremony to invite devotees to make merit for themselves and their relatives.
Yotxorfa appear on sim in both Laos and Thailand and other buildings with a Buddhist connection. Their design and significance vary depending on local people’s faith and the materials available for construction.
Monk Daosaded Leumany, a teacher at the Sangha College in Vientiane’s Ongteu temple, explained a little about the architecture of temples in Laos.
The high peaked roofs are layered to represent several levels – they are always odd in number, having three, five or seven. The number of layers on the high peaked roofs corresponds to Buddhist doctrines, such as the three characteristics of Buddha and his teachings, or the five and seven levels of enlightenment.
Yotxorfa in Laos are often built with three levels of peaked roofs. Sims in Laos are typically built in three different architectural styles and are distinctive to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Xieng Khuang, and the members of the finial gable vary.
Temples in Vientiane are typically rectangular in shape, built of bricks and covered in stucco, with the whole structure resembling that of an elegant pyramid.
The edges of sim roofs almost always feature a repeated flame motif, with long, finger-like hooks at the corners called chao fa (sky lords). Legend has it that these hooks are for catching evil spirits that descend on the sim from above.
Sims usually have only one entrance, which is guarded by two nagas. The number of windows they have differs depending on the size of the hall but each window is adorned with wooden carvings and artistic sculptures.
Inside the hall one can often find murals portraying the Phravetsandon story, depicting the different stages of the life of Lord Buddha.
Sim were first built in Laos in the 14th century following the unification of the Lane Xang Kingdom under King Fa Ngum.
Unfortunately pure Lao architectural styles can only be seen in older temples, where the carvings have been well preserved. Vat Sisaket in Vientiane and Xieng Thong temple in Luang Prabang province are two such examples.
Newer temples or those that have undergone extensive renovation are more likely to be influenced by Thai or Cambodian architectural styles, despite the fact that most of the craftsmen involved are Lao.
Sims are the places where archaeological treasures such as gold and silver Buddha images and ancient Buddhist scriptures are usually stored.
Women are sometimes not allowed to enter sims as it felt they may cause monks to lose their concentration. However, they are usually allowed to enter during Lao New Year to pay homage and pour water on Buddha images.
When men and women enter a sim, they should remember they are in a sacred place and respect the nation’s traditions and culture, by showing humility. They should take off their shoes; women should dress in silk blouses and traditional long skirts, whilst men should also take off their hats.
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