Location and Status Wat Phra Kaew (Thai: วัดพระแก้ว) is a third-common-class royal temple situated in the area of 10,640 square metres on Trairat road, Wiang sub-district, Muang Chiang Rai in Chiang Rai City. His Majesty the King graciously upgraded the temple to the royal temple on May 31, 1978. The temple gains historical importance as the place where the Emerald Buddha was found. It is also one of the main centres of Buddhist education and the Sangha’s administration in northern Thailand.
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Derivation of the Name
Wat Phra Kaew is one of the old and most revered Buddhist temples in Chiang Rai. It is unclear when the temple was founded. The temple was originally called Wat Pa Yeah or Wat Pa Yah as it was surrounded by a dense yellow bamboo grove locally known as Yeah or Yah. In 1434 the temple’s octagonal Chedi (Pagoda) was struck by lightening and it fell apart to reveal Phra Kaew Morakot, the Emerald Buddha, which was hidden inside it. The temple had been thus called Wat Phra Kaew after the name of this holy Buddha image up until then.
The Phra Kaew Marakot remained at Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai for 43 years before its discovery 1391-1434 (B.E. 1934-1977) and remained for two years thereafter, at which time it was moved to Lampang in 1436 (B.E. 1979)
One of the largest and most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand is presently housed in the ubosoth at Wat Phra Kaew, Phra Jao Lan Thong. The image is made of brass and copper and is believed to be 700 years old. The image was originally housed at Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong in Chiang Rai, then moved to Wat Ngam Muang, and then to Wat Phra Kaew in 1961 (B.E 2504). Thus it is now called Phra Jao Lan Thong.
Uposatha Hall
Phra Uposatha (a consecrated chapel used for the Sangh’s ceremonies) was originally a Vihara (assembly hall), built in 1890 in Chiang Saen style with 9.50 metres in width and 21.85 in length. It is a medium sized, nicely carved wooden structure with unique carved doors. Its architectural style is known as “incubating hen”. Its renovation was done in 2001 with the approval of the Department of Fine Arts.
A new Phra Kaew Marakot image was carved in China of Canadian jade in honor of Her Royal Highness Somdej Phrasrinkharintra, the Princess Mother's ninetieth birthday. A dedication ceremony was held in Bangkok on 20 September 1991 (B.E. 2534) and the image was installed by grand procession at Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai on 19 October of the same year.