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Wat Intharawihan: Great Buddha
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Wat Intharawihan: Great Buddha
THAILAND, Bangkok; Bangkok period (1782–present), dated 1867–1928; Brick, glass mosaic and gold; H: 32 m
The statue is the tallest standing Buddha in Thailand and the tallest Buddha holding a bowl in the world. The figure is made from brick and stucco and is covered with glass mosaic gilded with 24-carat gold. Construction started during the reign of King Rama IV (reigned 1851–1868) and continued for 61 years into the time of King Rama VII (reigned 1925–1935). A Buddha relic was given to Thailand in 1978 by the Sri Lankan government and was placed in the statue 's usnisa.
The Buddha has a prominent flame ornament above the usnisa that is covered by a decorative parasol. Arched eyebrows appear high on the forehead. The nose is broad and is almost as wide as the mouth that has pronounced lips. A monastic robe covers the shoulders and arms, but the fingers and the outline of the alms bowl they support are not obvious and can only just be seen. The folds of the garment are presented as stylized lines falling sharply downwards, with a corner fold crossing diagonally from the left shoulder to the calves. Such a depiction is rarely seen in traditional Thai sculpture. |
