Anne
standing on the steps to the
Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha |
The
Chapel |
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Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha houses a beautiful statue of Buddha
that is the object of national veneration. While it is made of jade
and not emeralds, the statue attracts huge crowds who come to pay
their respects to the memory of Buddha and His Teachings on those
days of the week it is open. The main building consists of all the
features of a monastery except living quarters. Monks do not live
within the chapel as they do in others. The Emerald Buddha was first
discovered in 1464 and brought to Lampan where it remained until King
Tilok of Lannatai brought it to Chienmai, the ancient capital. Power
eventually passed to King Jayajettha of Luan Praban, whose mother
was a Chienmai Princess, and he took the statue with him back to Luan
Praban. King Jayajettha moved the capital to Wiencand and took the
Emerald Buddha with him. It remained there until the King of Dhonburi
sent an expedition to Wiencand which brought the effigy back with
them. When King Rama I built the city of Bangkok and the chapel royal
and grand palace the Emerald Buddha was installed in the chapel. There
is only one other effigy that the Thai people hold with as much veneration
as the Emerald Buddha. That is the Sambuddhabarni Buddha cast by King
Monkut, Rama IV. |
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building contains murals depicting the life of Buddha, a painted middle-aged
conception of the universe, birth stories and nursery rhymes. Some
of the door panels contain beautiful inlaid work in mother-of-pearl. |
Elaborately
decorated wall of the
Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha |
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Mystical
figures adorning the Chapel Royal of
the Emerald Buddha |
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Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha is, perhaps, the most beautiful
of the buildings at the Grand Palace. It is so elaborately decorated
on its outside walls with hundreds, if not thousands, of small golden
statues of mystical figures. Pictures inside the chapel are not allowed,
but the real beauty (besides the statue of Buddha) is outside. |
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Two
examples of the elaborate decorations found on the outside of some
of the buildings at the Grand Palace
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Now,
let's continue to the next page for pictures of the Dusit Group of
buildings at the Grand Palace ... |
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