While legend traces this statue to India, its rich historical records dates its finding in Cambodia in the 15th century, moved to Laos in the 16th century and then to Vientiane where it remained for 215 years, and finally to Thailand in the 18th century. Considering the long history and Nagasena's prophesy that the Emerald Buddha would bring "prosperity and pre-eminence to each country in which it resides",the protector of the country.