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  Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

 

Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew, i.e. the ‘Temple of the Jewelled Buddha’, in the city of Chiang Rai, is a temple complex that consists of several edifices.

 

The ubosot, i.e. the main prayer hall, houses Phra Chao Lan Thong, i.e. a bronze Buddha image seated in the maravijaya pose.

 

  Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

 

  Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

 

This temple initially possessed Bangkok's Emerald Buddha (fig.), which was enshrined in the temple's octagonal chedi and accidentally discovered when it in 1434 AD was destroyed by lightening, thus revealing the statue, which was later relocated to Wat Phra Sr Rattana Sahtsa-dahrahm in the Thai capital (fig.).

 

The original name of this temple was Wat Pa Yia, a local dialect meaning ‘Bamboo Forest Temple’, yet it changed its name after the discovery of the emerald image, end when this was removed, the temple produced a replica.

 

  Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

 

  Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

 

The new Emerald Buddha (fig.) of Wat Phra Kaew is today not enshrined in a stupa but on display in a small, elevated, Lan Na-style building in the back of the temple complex.

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