Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew

A Phaithee is a terrace, or base, that supports several buildings. In The Emerald Buddha Temple, there are 2 Phaitee Terraces; the large terrace adjacent to the hall of temple, which supports the Phra Srirattana Pagoda, The Phra Mondhob and The Phra Thep Bhidorn house; and the small Phaithee at the front of the hall of temple which supports the Phra Khantharat Buddha Image Hall and the Phra Mondhop Yod Prang.

The large Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew is rectangular in shape. The terrace is raised 3 steps and is surrounded by a balustrade and decorated with porcelain. There are 6 terraces. There is a Mondhop shaped door arch on the western side of the Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew. The tip of the arch is decorated with cup porcelain, and the roof is covered by green tiles with yellow tiles at the borders.

Originally, the Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew was a 3 level prataksin terrace of the Phra Mondhob. King Rama 4 ordered 2 levels of this terrace to be filled up and expanded to create the Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew in preparation for the construction of the Phra Phuthaprang Prasat and Phra Sri Ratana Chedi. At the same time the balustrades and 6 door arches were also constructed.

In the 5th Reign the stone floor of the Phaithee Terrace, Wat Phra Kaew was replaced and several objects were added, including cast animal figures, the Chada (many-tier umbrella) and brass lamp posts and 3 small bussabokes housing the insignias of the Kings of Ratanakosin.

In the 6th Reign, the Phra Phuthaprang Prasat was repaired and transformed into the Prasat Phra Thep Bhidorn. The door arches at the top of the mondhop were removed, leaving only 2 arches, on the southern and western sidea. The Phanom Mak, or betel trays, were also added atop the walls.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn ordered the construction of another small bussaboke to house the insignias of King Rama 6 to the present reign.