Wat Bowonniwet
Encyclopedia
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Rajavaravihara is a major Buddhist
temple
(wat
) in Phra Nakhon
district, Bangkok
, Thailand
. The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya school of Thai Theravada
Buddhism
and has been a major temple of patronage for the Chakri dynasty. It is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinasi (พระพุทธชินสีห์) which was moulded in about 1357. It is where many royal princes studied and served their monkhood, including king Bhumibol.
ordained at the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew
) and resided here for a short period after he became King. Bhumibol's mentor, Somdet Phra Yanasangworn, eventually became abbot of the temple, and later, the Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism. Exiled dictator Thanom Kittikachorn
returned to Thailand as a novice monk to join Wat Bowonniwet leading to large public demonstrations and a bloody crackdown in October 1976. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's
son, Prince Vajiralongkorn was ordained and spent a short period at this temple, as well as several of the Prince's own sons.
at the wat's shrine carries the relics and ashes of Thai royalty. The two vihara
s are closed to public. The T-shaped bot holds a magnificient Sukothai
period Buddha, cast in 1257 A.D. to celebrate freedeom from Khymers
. The imaginary 3-dimensional murals on the bot's interior walls were traditionally light and limited in their subject matter and style. Monk artist Khrua In Khong introducted western style in the murals depicting Buddhist topics.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
(wat
Wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...
) in Phra Nakhon
Phra Nakhon
Phra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...
district, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya school of Thai Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and has been a major temple of patronage for the Chakri dynasty. It is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinasi (พระพุทธชินสีห์) which was moulded in about 1357. It is where many royal princes studied and served their monkhood, including king Bhumibol.
Royal patronage
Prince Bhikkhu Mongkut arrived at the temple in 1836 (ordination name: Vajirañāṇo) and became the first abbot. He later acceeded to the throne of Siam as King Rama IV. His great grandson, King Bhumibol AdulyadejBhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
ordained at the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew
The Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is a "potent religio-political symbol and the palladium of Thai society". It is located in the historic centre of Bangkok , within the precincts of the Grand Palace.The main building is the central ubosoth, which...
) and resided here for a short period after he became King. Bhumibol's mentor, Somdet Phra Yanasangworn, eventually became abbot of the temple, and later, the Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism. Exiled dictator Thanom Kittikachorn
Thanom Kittikachorn
Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was a military dictator of Thailand. A staunch anti-Communist, Thanom oversaw a decade of military rule in Thailand from 1963 to 1973, until public protests which exploded into violence forced him to step down...
returned to Thailand as a novice monk to join Wat Bowonniwet leading to large public demonstrations and a bloody crackdown in October 1976. King Bhumibol Adulyadej's
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
son, Prince Vajiralongkorn was ordained and spent a short period at this temple, as well as several of the Prince's own sons.
Architecture
The golden chediChedi
Chedi is an alternative term for a Buddhist stupa, mainly used in Thailand. It may also refer to:* Chedi Kingdom, an early kingdom in India* Chedi, U Thong, a subdistrict of U Thong District, Suphan Buri Province, Thailand...
at the wat's shrine carries the relics and ashes of Thai royalty. The two vihara
Vihara
Vihara is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a Buddhist monastery. It originally meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges" used by wandering monks during the rainy season....
s are closed to public. The T-shaped bot holds a magnificient Sukothai
Sukhothai (city)
Sukhothai ) was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom.Sukhothai is 12 km from the modern city of New Sukhothai.Sukhothai, which literally means "Dawn of Happiness" with an area of 6,596 km2., is about 427 km north of Bangkok and was founded in 1238. Sukhothai was the capital of the...
period Buddha, cast in 1257 A.D. to celebrate freedeom from Khymers
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
. The imaginary 3-dimensional murals on the bot's interior walls were traditionally light and limited in their subject matter and style. Monk artist Khrua In Khong introducted western style in the murals depicting Buddhist topics.