When I say Golden Buddha, I mean a 10 foot tall, 5 1/2 ton solid gold Buddha statue with an incredible story.
The history of this statue is uncertain but it is thought to be from the 13th and the Sukhothai Dynasty. At some point, in an effort to protect the treasure from invading armies it was covered in stucco and plaster.
The "plaster" Buddha was brought to Bangkok around 1800 where it sat in a dilapidated temple for another 150 years.
In 1955, workers were moving the statue when it slipped from the ropes and landed in the mud. That's when someone noticed a golden glimmer.
The Golden Buddha is now housed in a four-story marble temple in Chinatown. The body is 40% pure gold, the head 80% and the hair and top knot are 99% pure gold.
It's a beautiful site to see. The elegant Buddha is in the traditional pose of Bumisparsha Mudra with his right hand touching the earth. He sits on a pedestal with offerings before him.
The statue is officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwan Patimakon and a visit to this wat or Buddhist Temple should definitely be on your list when you visit Bangkok.
One other interesting tidbit is that the statue comes apart into nine pieces that fit together perfectly. In the plaster and stucco, they actually found the key that makes that possible. After all that time.
What do you think of the Golden Buddha?
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