WAT PHRA

KAEW HEAVEN AND EARTH

Built as the royal temple within the Grand Palace, same as the Ayutthaya tradition. The temple has
no residing Buddhist monks, but was meant as the spiritual center of the kingdom and the site for
major royal ceremonies.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Ubosot
Emerald Budha
Main Stupa
Phra Mondop
Royal Pantheon
Gallery

7. Srcipture Hall
8. Ankor Wat Model
9. Viharn
10. Ho Phra Nak
11. Stupa
12. Prang

Wat Phra Kaew (Thai: , RTGS: Wat Phra Kaeo, IPA: [wt pr kw], Pronunciation, English: Temple of the Emerald Buddha;
full official name Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, Thai: , IPA: [wt pr s rt.ta.n st.sa.da.ram]) is

regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. The Emerald Buddha housed in the temple is a potent religio-political
symbol and the palladium (protective image) of Thai society.[1][2] It is located in Phra Nakhon District, the historic centre of Bangkok, within
the precincts of the Grand Palace.[3][4]
The main building is the central phra ubosot, which houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha. According to legend, this Buddha image
originated in India where the sage Nagasena prophesized that the Emerald Buddha would bring "prosperity and pre-eminence to each
country in which it resides", the Emerald Buddha deified in the Wat Phra Kaew is therefore deeply revered and venerated in Thailand as the
protector of the country. Historical records however dates its finding to Chiang Rai in the 15th century where, after it was relocated a
number of times, it was finally taken to Thailand in the 18th century. It was enshrined in Bangkok at the Wat Phra Kaew temple in 1782
during the reign of Phutthayotfa Chulalok, King Rama I (17821809). This marked the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand, whose
present sovereign is Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX.
The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, is in a standing form, about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall, carved from a single jade stone
("emerald" in Thai means deep green colour and not the specific stone). It is carved in the meditating posture in the style of
the Lanna school of the northern Thailand. Except for the Thai King and, in his stead, the Crown Prince, no other persons are allowed to
touch the statue. The King changes the cloak around the statue three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter, and rainy
seasons, an important ritual performed to usher good fortune to the country during each season. [2][3][4]

Introduction
The word Chedi, (che-di) in Thai, is based on the Pali language word Chetiya with the meaning "burial mound or
pyre". Chedi's are generally behind the main Wihaan. In most cases that is West of the main Wihaan. A Chedi usually
has a bell shaped chamber containing ashes of a deceased important person or an important relic. The bell shaped
part is placed upon a base of various shapes and it is topped by a spear, usually ending in a Chattra. The shape of
the lower part of the base is in most cases square with redented corners or octagonal where four sides are redented.
A few Chedis have a round base. The upper part of the base is often octagonal. In some cases it is 12-sided or
round. The base can have niches for Buddha images.

Structure

Most Chedi's in Chiang Mai have the following components

1. The base carries the bell shaped part of the Chedi. The upper part of the base (1a) is a multiple
tier structure that represents the Traiphum.
2. The bell shaped part (ong-rakhang) is the relic chamber of the Chedi. It is round in most cases,
but sometimes it follows the shape of the upper part of the base.
3. The spire base carries the spire. It can take several shapes: usually round, but also square,
octagonal or redented octagonal.
4. The lower part of the spire consists of circular tiers representing the heavens.
5. The upper part of the spire (plee) is lotus bud shaped and represents Nirvana.
6. The chattra is strictly seen not a part of the Chedi. It does however tell us something about the
importance of what is in the relic chamber.
The Chedi is a solid domeshaped structure where relics of Buddha may be housed, such as a bone fragment or hair,
or the ashes of a past king. Some Thai wat complexes are specifically designed and built around the sacred Chedi.
Types of Chedi:
Bell shaped style Chedi
Square Chedi
Indented Chedi
Suwanna Chedi, Prang
Suwanna Stepped Chedi