Vientiane Walk - Hor Lak Muang (Vientiane City Pillar)

This was the end-marker of my morning walk, from where I should walk back to the hotel. I didn't know about what this is. It just happened to be exactly 1km from Ibis.

By the way, aside from the Honda store and service center (2 buildings beside each other), it was only here that I saw commercial-residential buildings in my entire walk.

Anyway...

Hor Lak Muang or Vientiane City Pillar - a geographical and spiritual marker.

This isn't a Wat nor place of worship, but people come to visit and pray. To what? Sa true lang, nalito talaga ako kung unsa ba gayud ni! Napa-research ako ng todo-todo!

The big black slab with a wordy dedication helped (a bit) for me to know a city pillar.

So it's a physical, geographical, civil and spiritual marker of a city's existence. If you include the last paragraph in that black granite slab, political ideology marker na rin.

It's like this:
There is literally a pillar. But in Laos (or Thailand, Cambodia, etc.) it is 'enshrined' in a house-like structure. And that edifice is what many folks (locals/visitors) remember.

Then the place is deemed sacred. Since people visit, it becomes a tourist attraction!

Actually, the being sacred comes first. It is purportedly pointed by divine intervention!

I mean there are activities, ceremonies involving celestial positions and horoscopes for monks to pick a place, on where a city pillar can be erected, followed by where the king should reside, etc. So a city pillar like this, precedes everything. Thus, this is old.

I just simplified the description, but it is actually more elaborate and 'spiritually' very meaningful. Such that, a city pillar is deemed the city's spiritual heart and foundation.

Now, since it is deemed a spiritual epicenter governed by cosmic laws, a city pillar in Laos or nearby countries has no direct equivalent in the Christian or Islamic worlds.

An "obelisk" is similar - but not in the spiritual sense/treatment. A "time capsule" is also similar - but not of royal, presidential or divine esteem as they are commercial.

One thing I remember that's almost similar in terms of "spiritual treatment" is Cebu's Magellan's Cross - not a chapel, not even an altar, but considered by many as sacred.

In Vientiane, the "pillar" is enshrined in that big and beautiful structure. In Cebu, the "cross" is enshrined in that big and beautiful (na rin) guard house whatever. Ganern!

I caught my self smiling at having come up with that analogy. Oops, the stewardess smiled and even bowed at me for no reason. Maybe I was smiling big OMG hahaha!

I am writing these stories kasi while on the flight from Vientiane to Bangkok!


Here are things I got, for a better understanding of what and why is a city pillar:

👉Traditionally, when a city was founded, a pillar would be erected at an auspicious spot chosen by court astrologers and monks.

👉This pillar was believed to house the guardian spirit/s of the city.

👉It was/is believed to shelter a city from misfortune, calamity, and disorder.

👉It was/is believed to symbolize a ruler’s right to found and govern a city.

👉No pillar, no properly born city nor legitimate ruler.

👉It stands as a symbolic center, aligning heaven, earth, and the human realm.

That's why, at city pillars, people pray for safety health success; ask blessings before major life events; make offerings, especially during festivals and personal milestones.

Thus, in their tradition, a city isn't just built, it is consecrated.

Hmm, let me end this "discovery" with: pareho rin sa atin kahit iba ang relihiyon di ba?!

Alright, back to my walk, and it was time to go back to the hotel.

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