We continued exploring this fascinating and very photogenic complex and here are some more images from there. Unfortunately, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was closed during our visit so I just have exterior images. Here is a description from the official Grand Palace website:
https://www.royalgrandpalace.th/th/discover/architectureThe Temple of The Emerald Buddha
Commonly known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram in Thai or Wat Phra Kaew, was established by King Rama I in 1782. This temple is located in the area of the Outer Palace to house the Emerald Buddha. The tradition of construction a Buddhist temple in the precincts of the royal palace has existed in Thailand since the Sukhothai period, about 800 years ago. The unique aspect of the royal temple in the palace such as this temple is that it has no living quarters for Buddhist monks.
Phra Ubosot or The Chapel of The Emerald Buddha
Phra Ubosot or The Chapel of the Emerald Buddha is the most important building in the temple was built by King Rama I in 1782. It’s the ordination hall in real Thai style architecture, the style of Ayudhaya period, used as an ordination place for Buddhist monks because it is surrounded by double sacred boundary stones, which mean royal chapel place in small pavilions. The outside walls of the building are decorated with gilt and colour glass mosaics. The Emerald Buddha is the most important Buddha image in Thailand There are three different costumes of the Emerald Buddha, one of season, they are summer, rainy season and winter. The Emerald Buddha is the Buddha image which was carved from a block of jasper. The image itself measure 66 cms. high include the base and 48.3 cms. wide, in the attitude of meditation. Judging from the image’s style, the Emerald Buddha is of northern Thai workmanship and was probably made in 15th century, and regarded as the most important Buddha image in Thailand. There are three different costumes of the Emerald Buddha, one of season, they are summer, rainy season and winter. The first two seasons costumes were made in the reign of King Rama I and the last one for winter was made in the reign King Rama III, all made of gold and jewelry. The ceremony of changing the costume of the Emerald Buddha takes place three times a year, at the beginning of new season by the King.
The Demon Guardians
There are six pairs of them, standing at the gate of the gallery. Most of them are facing to the chapel of the Emerald Buddha. It’s meaning that they are guarding The Emerald Buddha from all evil spirits. These demon statues were built in the reign of King Rama III. Each one is an important character in Rammakian story, the most important literature in the reign of King Rama I.
The hermit figure
This figure was cast in bronze by the ordered of King Rama III for commemorating to Thai traditional medicine. In front of him is placed a mortar and a grinding stone, which in the old days were used by the believers to grind the medicine for greater efficacy.
Hor Phra Rajkoramanusorn and Hor Phra Rajphongsanusorn
A twin building in Thai style behind the chapel of the Emerald Buddha are the chapel for many Buddha images were built by King Rama IV, on the north is named Hor Phra Rajkoramanusorn, housing 34 small Buddha images, dedicated to 33 Kings of Ayudhaya and one King of Thonburi. The building on the south is named Hor Phra Rajphongsanusorn, housing 8 small Buddha images, dedicated to the King of Bangkok period.
Phra Siratana Chedi
This golden stupa is called Phra Siratana Chedi in Thai. It was erected by King Rama IV in 1855 for enshrining the Relics of the Lord Buddha. This stupa has a circular base and a bell shape which is in the Ceylonese style. The original of this one was cover with the white wash and the golden tile mosaics were applied to the stupa in the reign of King Rama V.
Phra Mondop
This Building is the Buddhist library, called Phra Mondop in Thai. It was built during the reign of King Rama I in 1789 for containing a large beautiful mother-of-pearl inlay book cabinet to house the Buddhist scripture.
Phra Bussabok
Around the library are four small pillars surrounded by elephant statues. In gilt pavilions on the pillars contain the royal emblems of all the Kings in Bangkok period. At the base of the gilt pavilion, you can see bronze models of auspicious white elephants. They are different in number due to the number of white elephant in each reign.
Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn or The Royal Pantheon
The Royal Pantheon or Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn in Thai, a pavilion having a prang summit, it is a mixture of Thai-Khmer style.It was constructed by King Rama IV in 1856.At first the King wanted to transfer the Emerald Buddha from the main chapel to enshrine inside this building. But after this building was finished it was found to be too small to perform any ceremony. So it was left vacant. Later, King Rama V transferred a small golden stupa from Sivalai Garden which is inside the Grand Palace, to enshrine inside this building. But in 1903,a great fire broke out on the roof of the Royal Pantheon because the electrical wires had worn out.The restoration was accomplished in the reign of King Rama VI,and turned this building to be the Royal Pantheon of all Kings in the Bangkok period. At present, eight statues of the previous Kings are enshrined inside this building.
Model of Angor Wat
A model of Angor Wat, the Khmer temple in Cambodia. It is an impressive example of Khmer architecture of the 12th century. King Mongkut or King Rama IV had it built for his subjects to see what the Khmer ruins looked like. The original Angor Wat in Cambodia was built by King Suryavarman II. The real one is very large, about 1,000 metres length and 800 metres width.
Phra Asadha Maha Chedi
The eight prang or towers are standing on the east of the temple were constructed during the reign of King Rama I. A prang has the same function as a chedi which is a monument one worthy of veneration. They are different colours each one is dedicated to a certain Buddhist concept.
The gallery and Ramakien Story
The gallery which surrounding every buildings in the temple, there are mural paintings which depict the story of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana epic. This story is the battle between Tosakanth who is the King of demons and King Rama (human being). The story tell about Tosakanth kidnaps the Queen of King Rama whose name is Sida, and takes her to Longka city, where he hopes that she will fall in love with him but she doesn’t. In the battle that follow, Tosakanth asks his innumerable relatives and friends to join him, whereas King Rama has a monkey army and the great monkey worriors under his command. Finally, Tosakanth is defeated and King Rama takes Sida back to Ayodhaya, his capital city. The painting consists of 178 sections. The first picture is located just opposite of the Spired Hall. And they proceed in a clockwise directions. The painting were first done in the reign of King Rama I and have been renovated many times.
For additional images and narrative of Bangkok, Please see my previous posts:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-768406-1.html#13795578https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-768562-1.htmlhttps://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-768812-1.html#13804761https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-769022-1.html#13808589https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-769193-1.htmlhttps://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-769453-1.html#13818213Mark
We continued exploring this fascinating and very p... (
