Wat Phra Kaeo - Interesting Features around Wat Phra Kaeo

Interesting Features Around Wat Phra Kaeo

Galleries (Phra Rabiang) The walls of the galleries surrounding Wat Phra Kaeo are decorated with murals depicting the story of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. The murals are painted during the reign of King Rama I and have been restored many times since. The 4984 verses telling the story of the Ramakien are inscribed in marble slabs embedded on the four sides of each pillar supporting the gallery roof.

Statues of Mythical Beings

The statue of the kinari above and the yakshas on the left and right are part of a big collection of statues of mythical beings in and around Wat Phra Kaeo. These statues are placed there to imitate the heavenly abode of gods and to frighten off evil spirits. Some of these divine beings, like kinaris, live in the Himaphan Forest in the Himalayas according to Thai mythology. The others are from the story of the Ramakien.

Chinese Stone Sculptures

These Chinese stone sculptures standing around the temple compound were brought back as ballast by junks bringing rice to China during King Rama III's reign and were installed in Wat Phra Kaeo. These statues can be found in other temples in Bangkok such as Wat Arun and Wat Suthat.

Phra Viharn Yod Viharn Yod is situated to the north of the Library. Strong Chinese influences are revealed in the architecture of Viharn Yod, which was decorated with Chinese tiles similar to those used in Wat Arun. Viharn Yod houses two Buddha images, the Phra Nak and Phra Thepidorn. Phra Thepidorn was originally a Hindu image and was believed to represent King U-Thong, the founder of Ayutthaya, the capital prior to Bangkok. King Rama I had the sculpture brought down to Bangkok and casted it into a crowned Buddha image covered with silver. Phra Nak is a 4m high standing Buddha image of copper alloy. This image originated in Ayutthaya.

Eight Prangs

In front of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on the east, is a row of eight prangs. They were dedicated respectively from the north to the south to the following important elements of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dhamma (the Law), Bhikkhus (Buddhist monks), Bhikshunis (Buddhist nuns who existed in the old days), Pacchekabodhi Buddhas (Buddhas who attained Enlightenment but never preached), Chakravatis (great emperors), the Bodhisatta (the Buddha in his previous lives, according to Theravada Buddhism) and Maitreya (the future Buddha).