Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re now standing in the compound of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha known in famous as Wat Pho.
The name PHO spells P-H-O, PHO is very much known to most Buddhist because it’s the name of a sacred tree (some-like Banyan tree) where in the history the Lord Buddha attained the state of enlightenment underneath.
Wat Pho is considered one of the biggest amongst hundreds of Buddhist temples in Bangkok. There’s no clear evidence to tell us when the temple was firstly built. According to the earliest historical record, historians suggest that the temple has existed here for over 250 years before the founding of both the capitals of Thonburi and Bangkok. Eventually, when King Taksin made Thonburi the capital of Siam on the other side of the river in 1767. The King then ordered renovation to the temple and made this temple a Royal Monastery.
In 1793, after King Rama I found Bangkok for the new capital and built the Grand Palace near by this old temple. The King then ordered to have this temple renovated again and it took seven and a half years to finish. With the passage of 46 years King Rama III commanded a big renovation program again to this temple and that involved restorations and building of many new constructions. The renovation started in 1839 and took 17 years to complete. The renovation occurred in about the same time when there was a great deal of trade between Thailand and China. This is the reason why we see Big Chinese architectural-influences and many other aspects of Chinese decorations shown here in this temple. The halls, the stupas, the pavilions are richly decorated with countless fragments with the recycles of the Chinese-wares.
Now, the whole area of the temple is about 20 acres deviding into two major sections.
One section is in the south overthere called “Sangkhawas” located the monks living houses.
This section in the north is called “Puthawas” standing halls and chapels used for the public services.
What really make this temple so famous is because it's the location of an enormous figure of the reclining Buddha placed here in this hall.
Let’s come into the hall and we have to remove our shoes off at the entrance, please follow me