Vat Choum Khong Sourintharam
ວັດຈູມຄ້ອງ ສຸຣິນທາຣາມ
"Temple of the Gong's Core" named thus because legend says the main Buddha image was partly made from the central boss of a gong. Founded 1844 by Phakhu Keo it was substantially renovated in 1962, the doors and windows being a project of the Venerable Houmpheng. The Chinese figures now guarding the entrance were originally gifts from the visiting ambassador to Luang Prabang from Kunming in 1841 and after many moves they were presented to the temple in the 1930's. They depict two Chinese bodhisattvas; Vajra, the thunderbolt representing masculine principles, and Ghanta, the bell, representing feminine principles. [www.orientalarchitecture.com]
