According to the ancient 'tamnan' or historical chronicle of Wat Phra That Haripunchai; the huge bronze gong that hangs in the northeast section of the temple grounds was cast in the year 1222 of the Buddhist Era 'during the reign of Queen Chamadevi'; which corresponds to 679 CE - almost certainly too early a date. A 'belfry' consisting of two pillars and a beam (shown in this photograph) was erected to hold the gong in 1882. This was later replaced with the current (2011) raised; open pavilion in Burmese style in 1937. It is claimed to be the largest gong in the world; but is in fact smaller than the gong at the Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay; Burma (Myanmar).