Places of Worship: Wat Phra Kaew

© Shutterstock

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Belief: Buddhism

Era: 1792 CE

Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is a massive Buddhist temple complex in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It dates from around 1792 CE, established under King Rama I of Thailand, and is regarded as one of the most sacred temples in the country.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha itself is the main structure within a spiritual complex. It has a huge prayer hall built over a marble platform. Around the building, there are murals showing the life and teachings of Buddha (as).

Construction of the complex began in 1783 CE, soon after King Rama I had made Bangkok the capital city of his kingdom. The temple complex was established on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. Two years later, the Emerald Buddha was transported from Wat Arun across the river. Subsequent expansions and developments were done during the reigns of King Rama III in 1831 CE and Kings Rama IV and Rama V by 1882 CE, almost a century after works had first begun.

As a royal temple, it would not have needed any living quarters for the monks, unlike a more traditional Buddhist temple designed for ordinary communities. Instead of residential monks, they would invite monks from the surrounding temples to come for a short time to perform rituals on behalf of the royal family.

The temple complex includes seven entry gates, a model of the Angkor Wat Temple and a bell tower. It also has a huge ordination hall (Ubosot) that houses the Emerald Buddha image, which has been in place since 1785 CE. 

References:

S. Davey, Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die (London, UK: BBC Books, 2004).

C. Williams, Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, 14^th Edition (London, UK: Lonely Planet Books, 2008).