Wat Phra Kaew & Thailand Temples

The most visited temple in Bangkok kingdom of Thailand.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Montheintham Buddha Image Hall, Wat Phra Kaew

Montheintham Buddha Image Hall, Wat Phra Kaew is located to the east, opposite the first of the 6 spires which lies outside the gallery walls. The hall lies beside the Phra Thep Bhidorn house and houses 2 beautiful pearl-inlaid Tripitaka bookcases. The bookcase contain several volumns of the Tripitaka. The building is also used for preaching sermons on Buddhist holy days and sundays, beginning at 8 am. and 11 am. respectively.

Montheintham Buddha Image Hall, Wat Phra KaewMontheintham Buddha Image Hall, Wat Phra Kaew is a rectangular building with a 4 level roof. The gable is decorated with a representation of Phra Brahma astride a phoenix and above, Phra Indra mounted on Erawan, the three-headed elephant. Below the gable are figures of 5 Thephanom or angles. The front of the building, between the columns is decorated with wood carvings. The columns have triple indented corners and the capitals are decorated with lotus flower design. The entrance door is on the western side, opposite of the Viharn Yod buddha Image Hall and is made of giltstucco and shaped like a Mondhop. The door panels are inlaid with mother of pearl. They were made by craftsmen in the reign of King Boromakot for Wat Borom Phutharam in Ayutthaya. A verandah runs around the entire building. The windows are set in alcoves, decorated with wood carvings at the top. The interior in decorated with wood carvings of Hanuman, the symbol of the Front Palace. The inside of the hall is decorated in a special Thai design, the decorations depict celestial beings and groups of angles, male and female.

Montheintham Buddha Image Hall, Wat Phra Kaew was constructed in the first Reign by Krom Phra Ratchawang Boworn Mahasurasinghanat. The style is that of the early Bangkok-late Ayutthaya period. The building was intended to house the Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka) that were used to teach monks and novices.

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us

Sunday, February 19, 2006

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.

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Phra Phothithat Phimarn, Wat Phra Kaew

Stand behind The Hermit (the previous post); Phra Phothithat Phimarn, Wat Phra Kaew was constructed by King Rama 4 as a mondop shaped at the top like a crown and decorated with porcelain cups and saucers arranged into the shapes of flowers and leaves. The ciling and columns within the mondop are decorated in the western style and gilded. Inside there is another ancient prang or spire, containing a relic of the Buddha obtained from Buddha Gaya in India. the relic was brought from the north while King Rama 4 was still a monk in the Third Reign.

Phra Phothithat Phimarn, Wat Phra Kaew is located st the western end of The Hall of temple between Hor Ratchapongsanusorn and Hor Ratchakoramanusorn Buddha Image Halls.

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The Hermit, Wat Phra Kaew

On entering The Emerald Buddha Temple by the only gate permitted, the Her Gate, on the western side of the temple, the first thing that the visitor notices is a hermit (ruesri) sitting on a rock base with his knee drawn up. In front of him is a mortal for crushing medicines and behind him is the Phra Phothithat Phimarn.

The Hermit, Wat Phra Kaew

The image of The Hermit, Wat Phra Kaew

Called Cheewaka Komarapach, was cast in bronze in the Third Reign, He was a hermit doctor experienced in preparing traditional herbal medicines and the mortar was his symbol

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us

Monday, February 06, 2006

Sala Rai, Wat Phra Kaew

Sala Rai, Wat Phra Kaew are open sided pavillions traditionally used as places where religious text could be read to the people during festivals and holy days. there are 12 Sala Rai placed around the Hall of Temple, 4 pavillions each at the northern and southern sides and two each at the front and rear. Although originally designed to provide people who had come to hear the monks chanting with a resting place, they are now mainly used by tourists as a resting place.

Sala Rai, Wat Phra KaewAll 12 pavillions are similar in design and size, topped with a Thai-style roof and covered with blue and orange tiles. The gable is decorated with a Thephanom on a white glass background and surrounded by traditional Thai motifs on a blue glass background. The roof is adorned with a Chor Fa, Bai Raka, Hang Hong and Nag Sadung(Thai name. Carved wooden props help support the roof on all sides. The celling of the pavillions are covered with plaster. The floors are laid with marble at both levels.

Sala Rai, Wat Phra Kaew History

The Sala Rai were constructed in the First Reign. King Chulalongkorn (King Rama 5) ordered new ones constructed to replace the originals and these were again and new ones built to replace them. It is these pavillions that can be seen today. These same pavillions were renovated in the original style to mark the capital's bicentennial in the present reign.

Source Book : The Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us

Sunday, February 05, 2006

The Bell Tower, Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok

Stand on south of the Hall of temple, Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok.

History of The Bell

For history of this Bell have 2 presume

1. This Bell was found when dig down for make a swamp in Rakhang Khositaram Temple, Bangkok. Because of this bell have great sound then King Rama 1 transfer to the Bell Tower, Wat Phra Kaew.

2. King Rama 1 be kind enough to mold especially for Wat Phra Kaew.

History of The Tower

The original on King Rama 1 period was not have the architect record

Time after time when King Rama 4 period, the King was reconstruct by presume that set on the same place and pull down the old one but not finished until King Rama 5 period on 100 anniversaly Bangkok.

And fix again on King Rama 7 period by copy from the original.

delicious furl Yahoo My Web Google Bookmark Blinklist Blogmark Simpy Shadow Netvouz Reddit Soc.ialize.us