Photo: Mastertongapollo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified from the original
Photo: Mastertongapollo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified from the original
Photo: Mastertongapollo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified from the original
Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakon (Emerald Buddha)
พระพุทธมหามณีรัตนปฏิมากร (พระแก้วมรกต)
From a lightning-struck chedi in Chiang Rai to Lampang, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang and Vientiane, and home to Wat Phra Kaew — nearly 600 years in the journey of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most revered image.
History
The Emerald Buddha is a Buddha image carved from green nephrite jade, coloured like an emerald. It belongs to the pre-Chiang Saen to Chiang Saen school of art.
Consistent evidence records that it was first found enshrined in the chedi of Wat Pa Ya, Tambon Wiang, Mueang Chiang Rai (today Wat Phra Kaew, Mueang Chiang Rai District) in 1977 BE (1434 CE), when lightning struck the chedi and brought it down. The image found inside was covered in stucco, lacquered and gilded, and was placed in the vihara. Later the stucco at the nose flaked away, revealing emerald-coloured stone beneath. The stucco was then removed from the entire image, showing it to be jade of an emerald colour throughout.
King Sam Fang Kaen of Chiang Mai heard of the discovery and had the image brought to Chiang Mai. The elephant carrying it, however, would not travel to Chiang Mai and turned toward Lampang each time the Emerald Buddha was on its back. As Lampang also lay within the Lan Na kingdom, Chiang Mai allowed the image to be enshrined at Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao.
In the reign of King Tilokarat the Emerald Buddha was brought to Chiang Mai, where a prasat was built to house it, but it was struck by lightning several times.
King Chai Chettha of Lan Xang, a kinsman of the Lan Na royal house, then came to rule Chiang Mai. When he returned to Luang Prabang he took the Emerald Buddha with him; Chiang Mai asked for its return, but the Emerald Buddha did not come back. When Lan Xang moved its capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, the image was brought down as well.
Later King Taksin the Great established Thon Buri as the capital and brought the Emerald Buddha from the Lan Xang kingdom of Vientiane (Laos), enshrining it at Wat Arun Ratchawararam.
After his reign ended, King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great (Rama I) had Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakon placed on a busabok in the royal barge and carried across the Chao Phraya River to be enshrined at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, where it remains to this day.