พระพุทธรูปคู่บ้านคู่เมืองของ กรุงรัตนโกสินทร์
Historical sources indicate that the statue surfaced in northern Thailand in the Lanna thai kingdom in 1434.
One account of its discovery tells that lightning struck a chedi in "Wat Pa Yia", (Bamboo Forest Monastery) in the Chiang Rai, revealing a Buddha covered with stucco inside. The Buddha was then placed in the abbot's residence, who later noticed that stucco on the nose had flaked off, revealing a green interior. The abbot removed all the stucco and found a Buddha image made of a green semi-precious stone, which became known as Phra Kaew Morakot or the Emerald Buddha. "Emerald" here simply means "green coloured" in Thai.[5][6] Some art historians describe the Emerald Buddha as belonging to the Chiang Saen Style of the 15th century AD, which would mean it is of Lannathai origin.
Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai, where the Emerald Buddha was found
King Sam Fang Kaen of Lannathai wanted it in his capital, Chiang Mai, but the elephant carrying it insisted, on three separate occasions, on going instead to Lampang. This was taken as a divine sign, and the Emerald Buddha stayed in Lampang in a specially-built temple for the next 32 years. In 1468, it was moved to Chiang Mai by King Tiloka, where it was kept in a niche in a large stupa called Chedi Luang.[7] The Emerald Buddha remained in Chiang Mai until 1552, when it was taken to Luang Prabang, then the capital of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. Some years earlier, the crown prince of Lan Xang, Setthathirath, had been invited to occupy the vacant throne of Lannathai as his mother was the daughter of the king of Chiang Mai who had died without a son.[7] However, Prince Setthathirath also became king of Lan Xang when his father, Photisarath, died. He returned home, taking the revered Buddha figure with him. In 1564, King Setthathirath moved it to Vientiane, which he had made his new capital due to Burmese attacks and where the Buddha image was housed in Haw Phra Kaew.[8] The Buddha image would stay in Vientiane for the next 214 years.[7]
• This image was constructed in 157 BC. by Nagasena.
• This image is made by nephrite jade soft emerald green.
made of a semi-precious green stone
• This image important because is statue of Buddha Rattanakosin.