Editing Wat Pho (section)

== The temple complex ==
[[File:พระมณฑป วัดพระเชตุพนวิมลมังคลาราม Wat Pho (2).jpg|thumb|left|Phra Mondop of Wat Pho. Flanking its entrances are statues of Yak Wat Pho]]

Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest [[Thai temple art and architecture|wat]]s in Bangkok covering an area of 50 ''rai'' or 80,000 square metres.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Emmons|first=Ron |title=Top 10 Bangkok|year=2008|publisher=DK |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7566-8850-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ebnIm-cEt5sC&q=wat+arun&pg=PA26|page=58}}</ref> It is home to more than one thousand [[Buddhist art#Thailand|Buddha image]]s, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images at {{convert|46|m|ft|0}} in length.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Norwich|first=John Julius|title=Great architecture of the world |year=2001|publisher=Da Capo Press Inc.|isbn=0-306-81042-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oo2BjGYRIT0C&pg=PA266|page=266}}</ref> The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Chetuphon Road running in the east–west direction. The larger northern walled compound, the ''[[Thai temple art and architecture#Phutthawat|phutthawat]]'', is open to visitors and contains the finest buildings dedicated to the Buddha, including the ''[[Ubosot|bot]]'' with its four directional ''[[Vihara|viharn]]'', and the temple housing the reclining Buddha.{{sfn|Matics|1979|p=3}}  The southern compound, the ''[[Thai temple art and architecture#Sangkhawat|sankhawat]]'', contains the residential quarters of the monks and a school. The perimeter wall of the main temple complex has sixteen gates, two of which serve as entrances for the public (one on Chetuphon Road, the other near the northwest corner).{{sfn|O'Neil|2008|page=117}}

[[File:Bangkok Wat Pho P1100587.JPG|thumb|upright|Chinese guardian figure beside a gate, Wat Pho]]

The temple grounds contain four great ''chedis'', 91 small ''[[Stupa|chedi]]s'', two [[Belfry (architecture)|belfries]], a ''bot'' (central shrine), a number of ''[[vihara]]s'' (halls) and various buildings such as pavilions, as well as gardens and a small temple museum. Architecturally the ''chedis'' and buildings in the complex are different in style and sizes.{{sfn|Brockman|2011||pages=302–304}}  A number of large Chinese statues, some of which depict Europeans, are also found in the complex guarding the gates of the perimeter walls as well as other gates in the compound. These stone statues were originally imported as [[ballast]] on ships trading with China.{{sfn|Brockman|2011||pages=302–304}}

Wat Pho was also intended to serve as a place of education for the general public. To this end a pictorial encyclopedia was engraved on granite slabs covering eight subject areas: history, medicine, health, custom, literature, proverbs, lexicography, and the Buddhist religion.<ref name="sights2">{{cite book |title=The Sights of Rattanakosin |author=Committee for the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Celebration |year= 1982 |page=145 }}</ref>{{sfn|O'Neil|2008|page=119–120}}  These plaques, inscribed with texts and illustrations on medicine, figures with pressure points for Thai traditional massage, and other subjects, are placed around the temple,{{sfn|Gray|Ridout|2012|page=91}} for example, within the Sala Rai or satellite open pavilions. Dotted around the complex are 24 small rock gardens (''[[khao mor]]'') illustrating rock formations of Thailand, and one, called the Contorting Hermit Hill, contains some statues showing methods of massage and yoga positions.{{sfn|Brockman|2011||pages=302–304}}{{sfn|O'Neil|2008|page=119–120}} There are also drawings of constellations on the wall of the library, inscriptions on local administration, as well as paintings of folk tales and animal husbandry.<ref name="sights2"/>

===Phra Ubosot===
[[File:พระอุโบสถวัดพระเชตุพน2.jpg|left|thumb|Phra Ubosot]]
Phra [[Ubosot]] (Phra Uposatha) or ''bot''  is the ordination hall, the main hall used for performing Buddhist rituals, and the most sacred building of the complex. It was constructed by King Rama I in the Ayuthaya-style, and later enlarged and reconstructed in the [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Rattanakosin]]-style by Rama III. The ''bot'' was dedicated in 1791, before the rebuilding of Wat Pho was completed.{{sfn|Matics|1979|pp=4–6}} This building is raised on a marble platform, its teak doors are inset with mother-of-pearl illustrating stories from the ''[[Ramayana]]''.{{sfn|Gray|Ridout|2012|page=91}} The ''ubosot'' lies in the center of courtyard enclosed by a double cloister (Phra Rabiang).[[File:ภายในพระอุโบสถวัดพระเชตุพน.jpg|thumb|Interior of the ubosot of Wat Pho]]Inside the ''ubosot'' is a gold and crystal three-tiered pedestal topped with a gilded Buddha made of a gold-copper alloy, and over the statue is a [[Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella|nine-tiered umbrella]] representing the authority of Thailand.{{sfn|Brockman|2011||pages=302–304}}  The Buddha image, known as Phra Buddha Theva Patimakorn and thought to be from the Ayutthaya period, was moved here by Rama I from ''Wat Sala Si Na'' (now called ''[[Wat Khuha Sawan (Bangkok)|Wat Khuhasawan]]'') in Thonburi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watpho.com/buddha.php |title=Phra Buddha Theva Patimakorn |work=Wat Pho }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://u-toseen.com/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap2.htm |title= Phra Uposatha (main chapel) |work= SunThai |access-date= 2017-10-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023358/http://u-toseen.com/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap2.htm |archive-date= 2017-11-07  }}</ref> Rama IV later placed some ashes of Rama I under the pedestal of the Buddha image so that the public may pay homage to both Rama I and the Buddha at the same time. There are also ten images of Buddha's disciples in the hall: [[Moggalana]] is to the left of Buddha and [[Sariputta]] to the right, with eight [[Arahant]]s below.<ref name="watpho" /><ref name="sights1" />

The exterior balustrade surrounding the main hall has around 150 depictions in stone of the epic, ''[[Ramakien]]'', the ultimate message of which is transcendence from secular to spiritual dimensions.{{sfn|O'Neil|2008|page=117}} The stone panels were recovered from a temple in Ayuthaya. The ''ubosot'' is enclosed by a low wall called ''kamphaeng kaew'',<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap3.htm |title=Kampaengkaew, Wat Chetuphon |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703051610/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap3.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> which is punctuated by gateways guarded by mythological lions, as well as eight structures that house ''[[bai sema]]'', stone markers that delineate the sacred space of the ''bot''.

[[File:Wat Pho, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 36.jpg|thumb|left|Phra Prang and part of the Phra Rabiang cloister]]

*'''Phra Rabiang''' - This double cloister contains around 400 images of Buddha from northern Thailand selected out of the 1,200 originally brought by King Rama I.{{sfn|O'Neil|2008|page=117}} Of these Buddha images, 150 are on the inner side of the double cloister, another 244 images are on the outer side.<ref name="sights1">{{cite book |title=The Sights of Rattanakosin |author=Committee for the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Celebration |year= 1982 |page=146 }}</ref> These Buddha figures, some standing and some seated, are evenly mounted on matching gilded pedestals. These images are from different periods in Siamese history, such as the [[Lan Na|Chiangsaen]], Sukhothai, [[U-Thong]], and Ayutthaya eras, but they were renovated by Rama I and covered with stucco and gold leaves to make them look similar.<ref name="sights1"/> 
 
[[File:Wat Pho, Bangkok, Tailandia, 2013-08-22, DD 22.jpg|thumb|Buddha images in the cloister. The cloister is intersected with four viharas or viharns, one on each direction.]]

The Phra Rabiang is intersected by four viharns. The viharn in the east contains an eight metre tall standing Buddha, the Buddha Lokanatha ("Saviour of the World"), originally from Ayutthaya. In its antechamber is Buddha [[Maravijaya attitude|Maravichai]] (referencing victory over [[Mara (demon)|Mara]]), sitting under a bodhi tree, originally from [[Sawankhalok District|Sawankhalok]] of the late-Sukhothai period. The one on the west has a seated Buddha sheltered by a [[Nāga|naga]], the Buddha Chinnasri ("the victorious lion Buddha"), while the Buddha on the south, the Buddha Chinnaraja (named after [[Phra Phuttha Chinnarat]] of [[Phitsanulok province|Phitsanulok]]), has five disciples seated in front listening to his first sermon. Both Buddhas in the south and west viharns were brought from Sukhothai by Rama I. The Buddha in the north viharn, called Buddha Palilai (a reference to the elephant Palilaika), was cast in the reign of Rama I.<ref name="sights1"/>{{sfn|Matics|1979|pp=8–13}} The viharn on the west contains a small museum.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap13.htm |title=Temple Museum Exhibiting Artifacts from Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704082111/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap13.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2015 }}</ref>

*'''Phra Prang''' - There are four towers, or ''phra'' ''[[Prang (architecture)|prang]]'', at each corner of the courtyard around the ''bot''. Each of the towers is tiled with marble and contains four Khmer-style statues which are the guardian divinities of the Four Cardinal Points.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap4.htm |title=Phra Maha Sthupa or Phra Prang, Wat Phra Chetuphon |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704075949/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap4.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2015 }}</ref>

===Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn===
[[File:พระมหาเจดีย์ 4 รัชกาล.jpg|left|thumb|Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn]]
This is a group of four large stupas, each 42 metres high. These four ''chedis'' are dedicated to the first four [[Chakri Dynasty|Chakri]] kings.<ref name="Frommers"/>  The first, in green mosaic tiles, was constructed by Rama I to house the remnants of a great bronze standing Buddha from Ayutthaya called Phra Phuttha Sanphet. The Burmese were said to have scorched the Buddha image to remove near 2 tons of its gold covering, later the image fragmented when the ''vihan'' it was in collapsed upon it, and Rama I who brought it Wat Pho decided to encase the image in the chedi.{{sfn|Matics|1979|page=8}} 

Two more chedis were built by Rama III, one in white tiles to hold the ashes of his father [[Rama II of Siam|Rama II]], another in yellow for himself. A fourth in blue was built by [[Mongkut|Rama IV]] who then enclosed the four ''chedis'' leaving no space for more to be built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thailand-delights.com/page1277.html |title=Wat Pho Temple, Phra Maha Chedi Si Rajakarn, Bangkok |work=Thailand Delights }}</ref>

[[File:Vihara of the Reclining Buddha 2015.jpg|thumb|The Viharn containing the reclining Buddha. The tree on the right behind a pavilion is the Bodhi tree.]]

===Viharn Phranorn===
[[File:พระวิหารพระพุทธไสยาส.jpg|left|thumb|Viharn Phranorn]]
The ''[[vihara|viharn]]'' or ''wihan'' contains the reclining Buddha and was constructed in the reign of Rama III emulating the Ayutthaya style. The interior is decorated with panels of mural.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watpho.com/historical.php |title=Phra Vihara of the Reclining Buddha |work=Wat Pho official site}}</ref>

Adjacent to this building is a small raised garden (Missakawan Park) with a Chinese-style pavilion; the centre piece of the garden is a [[bodhi tree]] which was propagated from the [[Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi]] tree in Sri Lanka that is believed to have originally came from a tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap17.htm |title=Missakawan Park, Wat Phra Chetuphon |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705062803/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap17.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2015 }}</ref>

===Phra Mondop===
[[File:หอไตรวัดพระเชตุพน.jpg|thumb|Phra Mondop]]
Phra [[Mondop]] or the ''[[ho trai]]'' is the Scripture Hall containing a small library of Buddhist scriptures. The building is not generally open to the public as the scriptures, which are inscribed on palm leaves, need to be kept in a controlled environment for preservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bangkokforvisitors.com/ratanakosin/wat-po/ |title= Wat Pho |work=Bangkok for Visitors}}</ref> The library was built by King Rama III. Guarding its entrance are figures called ''Yak Wat Pho'' ('Wat Pho's Giants') placed in niches beside the gates.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.watpho.com/historical.php?id=12&lang=en |title=Legend of Yak Wat Pho |work=Wat Pho}}</ref> Around Phra Mondop are three pavilions with mural paintings of the beginning of Ramayana.

===Other structures===
[[File:เจดีย์รายวัดพระเชตุพน2.jpg|left|thumb|Phra Chedi Rai which contains the ashes of members of the royal family]]
*'''Phra Chedi Rai''' - Outside the Phra Rabiang cloisters are dotted many smaller ''chedis'', called ''Phra Chedi Rai''. Seventy-one of these small ''chedis'' were built by Rama III, each five metres in height. There are also four groups of five chedis that shared a single base built by Rama I, one on each corner outside the cloister.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap7.htm |title=Single-Based Chedi, Wat Phra Chetuphon or Wat Pho |encyclopedia = Encyclopediathai.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703055430/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap7.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2015 }}</ref>  The 71 ''chedis'' of smaller size contain the ashes of the royal family, and 20 slightly larger ones clustered in groups of five contain the relics of Buddha.{{sfn|Brockman|2011||pages=302–304}}
[[File:ศาลาการเปรียญวัดพระเชตุพน.jpg|thumb|Sala Karn Parien]]
*'''Sala Karn Parien''' - Sala Karn Parien is the preaching hall, a simple pavilion used for religious instruction for monks and laymen, and also serves as a meditation hall.{{sfn|Matics|1979|pp=4, 6}} This hall is next to the Phra Mondop at the southwest corner of the compound, and is thought to date from the Ayutthaya period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap16.htm |title=Sala Karn Parien |work=Encycopediathai.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704075505/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap16.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2015 }}</ref> The building contains the original Buddha image from the ''bot'', which was moved here to make way for the Buddha image currently in the ''bot''. The Buddha image, called Phra Phuttha Satsada, is in the late Ayutthaya style.{{sfn|Matics|1979|pp=4–6}} Next to it is a garden called The Crocodile Pond.
*'''Sala Rai''' - There are 16 satellite pavilions, most of them placed around the edge of the compound, and murals depicting the life of Buddha may be found in some of these. Two of these are the medical pavilions between Phra Maha Chedi Si Ratchakarn and the main chapel. The north medicine pavilion contains Thai traditional massage inscriptions with 32 drawings of massage positions on the walls while the one to the south has a collection of inscriptions on guardian angel that protects the newborn.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap10.htm |title=Sala Rai |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Thai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703042333/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap10.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2015 }}</ref>
*'''Phra Viharn Kod''' - This is the gallery which consists of four viharas, one on each corner outside the Phra Rabiang.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap6.htm |title=Phra Viharn Kod or The Gallery |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai.org |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150704081731/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap6.htm |archive-date= July 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap10.htm |title=Sala Rai |encyclopedia=Encyclopediathai.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703042333/http://www.encyclopediathai.org/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap10.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2015 }}</ref>
*'''Tamnak Wasukri''' - Also called the poet's house, this is the former residence of Prince Patriarch [[Paramanuchitchinorot]], a scholar, historian and poet. The house was a gift from his nephew Rama III.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://u-toseen.com/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap23.htm |title=Wasukri Residence, Wat Phra Chetuphon |access-date=2016-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330041827/http://u-toseen.com/sunthai/center/bkk/wpomap23.htm |archive-date=2016-03-30  }}</ref> This building is in the living quarters of the monks in the southern compound and is open once a year on his birthday.