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✨A Treasure for Devotees and Collectors✨
Amulet Names: Phra Leela The Walking Buddha Pim Yai (Big mold)
Temple: Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat
City: Sukhothai
Year: age +600 years old
Materials: Nur Chin (Shin) Ngern
Measures: 12 cm
Conditions: Excellent
Quantity: 1
✅Won 2nd Place
Date 1st December 2562 B.E.(2019)
At Central Plaza, Bangna
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Phra is the image of the Buddha representing his descent from the Tavatimsha Heaven, to which he had risen in order to preach to his mother. Normally it is in the form of a figure that seems to have come to a momentary pause mid-stride, one heel raised while the other foot is firmly planted on the ground, one hand lifted in a gesture of giving instruction or dispelling fear, while the other arm is naturally at its side. This is also known as Abbhaya mudra, the mudra of no fear. In Theravada Buddhism, a mudra is a symbolic gesture or symbol. This gesture of Phra Leela means dispelling of fear, peace, protection as well as benevolence.
Phra Lila (Walking Buddha)
Phra Lila (Walking Buddha) brings good fortune and wealth to the wearer. A wearer will have the ability to see good opportunities as well as obtaining them. Phra Leela will help a wearer to walk through obstacles in life as well protecting them from danger. Business people will see that there is a lot of help obtained in their business as well as the luck of attracting people of higher power.
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'Pra Kru', or, 'Pra Gru' or even sometimes called 'Pra Kroo, are various kinds of amulets, made from various materials (lead, clay, sacred powder), which are buried, or stashed in a hiding place to gather power, and also in the case of Buddha Images or Buddhist Imagery, to preserve the faith and the knowledge of the existence of a Buddha, far into the Future. The hiding place, can be one of a number of different places, for example a Chedi Stupa, or with the 'Look Nimit' Arahant ball buried under the Uposadha, or under the Dais of the Buddha in the Uposadha, or under the earth in a Sacred place.
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Buddha amulet
Details: The word "shin" refers to metals which may be mixed with more than one substance. Amulets in Thailand made from metal. They usually contain three main ingredients: mercury, tin, and lead. (There may also be brass There is some copper mixed in.) When mixed, what kind of material will come out? It depends a lot on the presence of one of the ingredients. (Pour before the metal is lighter into the socket first. The first set of amulets came out in one piece. After pouring, heavy metals such as lead lie at the bottom of the tank to become a different type of material). Different contents will have their own characteristics and have different names. Classified according to physical characteristics As time passes, the old ones will be noticeably different in terms of color and texture, including wax, rust, wrinkles, cracks, etc.
As for the principles for considering old Buddha amulets, they are as follows: The first step is to know what material the Buddha amulet was made from. Let's say for example Phra Kru Wat Along - Koh Temple Bangkok, Phra Kru Wat Phet Saraburi is a silver amulet. (Contains lead mixed with tin and mercury which is a common ingredient that is normally found in silver amulets), red rust Chiang Saen amulets It is almost pure lead like this.
Now we have to see what condition the Buddha amulet will have after time has passed. It is necessary to consider the separate elements further. By the nature of each type of material, when it gets old, how will it react or react to air, humidity, and salinity? which can be viewed by separating them out as follows
1. Mercury: The technician will add mercury as a mixture so that the molten metal will run into the corners of the mold. Because the mercury will escape the heat. Makes the other metal parts follow along to fill the beautiful print. The mercury which is on the outermost surface gives the Buddha a shiny silver color. This mercury surface, after time has passed, will appear pale and dull, or what is called dead mercury, especially when exposed to moisture. The salinity will become duller and darker until it turns black.
2. Tin: Tin is a mineral that is abundant in Thailand. Used to make coins and many types of utensils. The distinctive feature of tin over time is that it will be gray-black. If exposed to moisture due to poor storage It will appear to swell and split open. In the language of Buddhist monks it is called a "bomb." An example that can often be seen is a tin coin with a hole in the middle. Can be found everywhere
3. Lead material Lead is the main ingredient in the most commonly made amulets in Thailand. Probably because there is a lot of lead in Thailand and production is easy because it has a low melting point. The appearance of lead will darken in color over time. There is a juiciness that can be felt visually. It has wrinkles, porosity (inside) naturally. Sometimes the lead itself is eaten to the point where there may be white wax and some rust. And sometimes the rust and wax have eaten deep into the inside of the metal, causing potholes or eaten until almost no real substance remains, thus becoming wax and rust to replace the original metal. It has been found as well. This depends on the storage conditions (as many experts believe that rust and wax come from within the meat).
Now when we learn about the characteristics of ingredients and how their condition changes with age. It's like we know the past. that when the Buddha image is old, it will look like this. On the other hand, if the appearance of the Buddha image or object that we are considering does not have the condition as stated, then it may be considered to be old. It may be a new creation, a parody made in a later era. Here, it will take some study to be able to consider it correctly.
** Each type of monk in each crypt There will be slightly different content, further divided into sections. Here we must study further ourselves.
*Phra Nuea Chin
The word "chin" according to the dictionary means alloy Contains lead and tin, commonly used to make amulets. Therefore it is accepted that The amulet is made of alloy metal. There is also lead ore mixed in. Chin meat can be divided into 3 types:
1. Lead alloy type means a Buddha amulet made from lead alloy containing more lead than other minerals. or pure lead. If this type of amulet is very old There will be rust in the form of oxide covering the upper part of the Buddha image. It has the appearance of red rust stains. Some Buddha images have a natural explosion of their flesh from the inside to the outside called “Broken up like a spider's web.” As for the younger monks, There will be red spots. There are patches on the Buddha's surface or there is only a thin layer of rust.
2. Type of silver amulet Refers to Buddha amulets that have a white interior that resembles silver. which is mainly a mixture of lead and tin. It will have more tin than lead and mixed with mercury for the purpose of making the hot metal run faster and adhere to the details of the Buddha mold better. This type of Buddha amulet has many formulas of ingredients. Each monk in each city is therefore not the same. They differ in the details of the ingredients. Can be roughly separated according to the nature of the rust on the Buddha's surface and the commonly seen colors. There are 3 characteristics.
- White silver or mercury surface The amulet's surface looks white like new. But if you look carefully, you will find that it is an old item. The skin will look dry. There are small pellets of mercury on the surface mixed with the stains of the crypt. When viewed with a magnifying glass, the color of the mercury can be seen as shiny.
- Black skin or crow's feet rust. This type of amulet has black or brown skin. That is, on the surface of the Buddha image there will be stains clinging to it and rust starting to destroy some of the metal.
If it's an old item, first of all. The contents must be dry. Secondly, there must be cracks, splits, or natural decay. That is, the separation must come from the inside out. It's not from the outside to the inside, like they put acid in it to make it look like spots. Thirdly, the surface of the Buddha image will not be smooth and tight. Fourthly, the edges on the sides of the Buddha image will not be sharp. But if it's a fake or a new one, it will look completely opposite to the real thing.
- Meat with flakes Some people call this type of Buddha amulet “Chin Krob” because the outer surface looks crispy. The surface of the Buddha image is very weathered and looks like scales of a fish or patchouli. Since the metal has disappeared, collectors of old metals have named this metal "metal". “Chin Kledi” or “Chin Crispy”
3. Green meat type Refers to Buddha amulets made from a mixture of lead and zinc. The Buddha's complexion is green mixed with black or mixed with gray. Previous generations called it “Chinsangkhawanon” because someone once found Chinsangkhawanorn nails contained in the amulet treasury. If it's an old item, it's already very old. The amulet's flesh will look dry. The Buddha's surface is black with a gray tinge. Above the Buddha's surface is rust and a cloudy white wax. The upper part is clear. Embedded together tightly and complexly, accumulating in a natural manner similar to the growth of flesh from the inside out. In addition, if it is a Buddha amulet, it will also have stains from the crypt. Some Buddha statues have white patches and yellow stains appearing in shallow crevices. The old green Buddha amulets must have rust called Some are "pimp's egg rust" and some "cow tallow rust" and the surface of the Buddha image is bumpy, similar to the wax of an old green Buddha amulet. The surface of the Buddha image is black mixed with gray. Above the surface of the Buddha image there is a cloudy white wax rust. on clear Embedded together tightly and complexly, accumulating in a natural manner similar to the growth of flesh from the inside out.
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Sukhothai during the reign of the great genius king King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, the country was very prosperous. Both in terms of art, architecture, and sculpture in various styles, especially during the reign of Phra Maha Thammaraja Lithai, Buddhism was considered to be the most glorious. than any reign
For this reason, the sculpture Which were found from various dungeons in this city, so they are beautiful and magnificent with Sukhothai and Takuan art styles. You will find amulets made from bronze, clay, metal, lead, and green metal.
In summary, amulets made of silver alloy. Considered to be the most popular creation in that era.
Phra Nang Khao On It is another type of Sukhothai art amulet that was previously found from Wat Mahathat. Later, in 1965, it was unearthed. Phra Nang Khao On A large number of them rose from Wat Chedi Sung, both made of metal and clay. including at Wat Chedi Ngam and Wat Khao Phra Bat Noi This amulet was also discovered from the dungeon. But there are not many of them.
Presently, Phra Nang Kha On of Wat Chedi Sung It is considered very famous and widely popular. Because it has a more beautiful shape than other crypts. The appearance of the silver material is easy to see. In terms of Buddha's virtues, it is good in terms of loving kindness, protection from danger, and invulnerability.
Phra Nang Phaya Kamphaeng Phet, shallow print, made of terracotta.
In the Phra Kru Thung Setthi procession Kamphaeng Phet City of which there are many and have different characteristics The one that is highly popular must be Phra Nang Phaya Muang Kamphaeng Phet or Phra Nang Kamphaeng being number one.
Phra Nang Phaya Kamphaeng Phet Even though there is a Buddha sitting inside the shape of an isosceles triangle. All of them are the same. But the characteristics of some crypts may be distorted. There's a lot of mismatch. As for the amulet's material, there are both clay and metal types.
Phra Nang Phaya Kamphaeng Phet Unearthed from almost every crypt in Lan Thung Setthi and Kamphaeng Phet Province, such as the crypt of Wat Phra Borommathat, the crypt of Wat Phikun, the crypt of Wat Pa Dam, the crypt of Wat Phra Kaew. Kru Wat Awas Noi, Kru Ruesi, Kru Natakham and Kru Ta Phum.
Phra Nang Phaya Kamphaeng Phet has 2 types: shallow type and deep type. The shallow type is more popular than the deep type. It was popular among people in the past. Because the print is more delicate and beautiful than the deep print, this popularity has been passed down to amulet collectors in the present era.
Buddhist aspect of Phra Nang Phaya Kamphaeng Phet, both prints, have the side of kindness, great popularity, good fortune, and protection from danger.
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The Wat Mahathat is located in the central zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park in the center of the old walled town. It was the largest and most important temple of the empire, located next to the Royal Palace.
The temple’s name translates to “temple of the Great Relic”. The temple was built following the concept of Mandala, an ancient Hindu symbol representing the universe.
The Wat Mahathat was founded by Sri Indraditya, the first King of the Sukhothai empire in the 13th century. A small temple at fist, it was enlarged and renovated several times by later Kings.
Lanna, Singhalese, Sukhothai & Mon Hariphunchai styles
The temple surrounded by a moat and brick walls contains a great number of monuments including the main lotus bud chedi, numerous more chedis in several styles, viharns, an ubosot and three mondops enshrining large images of the Buddha.
Because structures were added over the course of several centuries, the temple grounds contains structures of several architectural styles including Lanna, Singhalese, Sukhothai and Mon Hariphunchai.
The Ramkhamhaeng stele that provided a wealth of information about the great King Ramkhamhaeng and the history of both the Sukhothai empire and the Wat Mahathat was found at this temple.
The main chedi
The main chedi stands on a square platform surrounded by smaller chedis. It was built in 1345 to enshrine relics of the Buddha. The chedi is topped with a finial shaped as a lotus bud, characteristic for the Sukhothai architectural style.
Its base is adorned with 168 stuccoed sculptings of walking pilgrims and monks. Over the walking pilgrims are niches containing images of the Buddha in various postures, including a walking Buddha in Sukhothai style. The upper part of the main chedi is adorned with stuccoed reliefs of scenes from the life of the Buddha.
The main chedi is surrounded by eight smaller chedis, of which the four at the corners are in Mon Hariphunchai style and the four in between show Khmer influence.
The Mon Hariphunchai style chedis are in the shape of a stepped pyramid with receding tiers in which are rows of niches on all four sides that enshrined images of the Buddha. The chedi resembles the Mahabol chedi of the Wat Ku Kut in Lamphun, one of the few surviving examples of Mon Hariphunchai architecture in Thailand.
The main viharn
In front of the principal chedi stand the main viharn or assembly hall of which the base and several rows of pillars remain. The viharn enshrined a bronze seated image of the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha mudra, also known as “subduing Mara” or “calling the Earth to witness”. Stone inscription number 1 mentions a bronze Buddha image that was enshrined in the principal viharn in 1362.
During the reign of King Rama I in the late 18th century the image was moved to the Wat Suthat in Bangkok where it was named Phra Sri Sakyamuni.
Other structures of the Wat Mahathat
Very large images of the Buddha were popular during the Sukhothai era. Two mondops flanking the main chedi enshrine a 12 meter tall standing Buddha image known as Phra Attharot. Another mondop contains a large stuccoed image of the Buddha in meditation mudra, seated on a pedestal.
A large chedi enshrines the ashes of Phra Maha Dharmaraja Li Thai, one of Sukhothai’s Kings. The base of another large chedi is adorned with stuccoed figures of elephants and devil like creatures. Near the main viharn is a smaller viharn built during the Ayutthaya period. It contains a large seated image of the Buddha.
Other structures on the grounds include an ubosot or ordination hall containing a seated Buddha image in the Bhumisparsha mudra, several viharns and about 200 small chedis in various states of preservation.
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The Sukhothai Historical Park contains the ruins of Sukhothai (สุโขทัย), the capital of the kingdom of the same name. The name Sukhothai comes from Sanskrit, an ancient Asian language: “sukha” means “happiness” and the word “udaya” means “rise” so Sukhothai is supposed to mean “dawn of happiness”. The kingdom Sukhothai was an independent Thai state from the year 1238 until 1378, after which it became a tributary state of Ayuthaya until 1438. From 1438 until 1569 the royal family of Ayutthaya ruled the kingdom until the Burmese armies defeated the forces of Ayutthaya.
The decline of Sukhothai
Then it was for a short time (1569-1584) part of the Burmese Toungoo kingdom after which Ayutthaya conquered Sukhothai again. By then, it seems, Sukhothai was not a center of military and political importance anymore. Its great temples became overgrown with the jungle where tigers, leopards, and other wildlife roamed freely. The kingdom of Sukhothai is also known as Mueang Phra Ruang (เมืองพระร่วง), named after the Phra Ruang dynasty. Phra Ruang is a legendary historical figure who was the first ruler of a Thai kingdom and who freed the people from the yoke of the Khmer empire. Nine kings of the Phra Ruang dynasty ruled Sukhothai from 1188 until 1419.
The importance of Sukhothai
Sukhothai is considered the cradle of Thai culture, scholarship, art, and architecture. The reign of King Ramkhamhaeng, the third king of the Phra Ruang dynasty, was the golden age of the kingdom. Thai people credit him with the creation of the Thai alphabet. In 1833 King Mongkut (Rama IV) discovered the so-called Ramkhamhaeng inscription on a stone stele. This inscription is regarded as the earliest example of the Thai written language. The National Museum in Bangkok exhibits this famous stone stele. The inscription describes the political, economic, social, and religious life of Sukhothai during the reign of Ramkamhaeng.
Ramkhamhaeng also established Theravada Buddhism as the state religion. The temple architecture and design of Buddha images had a far-reaching influence in other Thai states such as the Lanna Kingdom. For instance, the Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai used to have a Sukhothai-style chedi. This is the Phum Khao Bin chedi (เจดีย์ทรงปราสาทยอดพุ่มข้าวบิณฑ์) or the Lotus-bud shaped chedi. The only example of such a chedi in Chiang Mai you can still find at Wat That Klang, south of the Chiang Mai Gate. I took the below picture of the lotus-bud-shaped chedi at Wat Traphang Ngoen in Sukhothai.
Sukhothai becomes an historical park
The Tourist Information Center offers a very clear timeline that preceded the inscription of Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, and Kamphaeng Phet on the UNESCO list of World Heritages in 1991. The visit of the Siamese Crown Prince in early 1907 resulted in the first comprehensive report of these ruined cities. For more about this book please see below. The Department of Fine Arts of the Siamese Ministry of Culture started its exploration and registration of the archaeological ancient Sukhothai in 1935. In the 1950s and 60s, the department continued its work which culminated in the creation of the Sukhothai Historical Park.
In 1975, the Fine Arts Department, as a government agency responsible for the preservation of cultural heritage, decided to develop the Sukhothai ancient city into a historical park. The cabinet approved the project on 20 December 1976 and inscribed the area of 2.5 sq. km. as a project area. Besides, the Fine Arts Department registered an area of 70 sq. km. surrounding the project area as an archaeological site following the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art, and National Museums B.E. 2504 (1961). Consequently, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn represented King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, at the opening ceremony in 1988.
The Sukhothai Historical Park becomes a UNESCO World Heritage
In 1991 UNESCO inscribed Sukhothai on the list of World Heritage sites, together with Sri (or Si) Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet under the name “Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns”.
UNESCO specified that the historic park of Sukhothai represents a masterpiece of the first Siamese architectural style and that these three sites are representative of the first period of Siamese art and the creation of the first Thai state. As you can see on the map below the World Heritage area of Sukhothai is much larger than the historical park only. The 6th Regional Office of the Fine Arts Department of the Thai government is responsible for the management of the World Heritage property.
The assessment from UNESCO of the importance of Sukhothai
UNESCO describes the importance of Sukhothai as such: “This Historical Park contains archaeological evidence and ancient monuments dated around the 13th – 15th Centuries AD covering the period of approximately two hundred years. The grandeur of Sukhothai especially in architecture and arts provides evidence of the significance of Sukhothai as the first capital of Thailand and the city of origin of the Thai language. Sukhothai architecture was initially influenced by Khmer and Sri Lankan culture but later evolved into its own distinctive style as seen through the Lotus-Bud Chedi known as “Poom Khao Bin”. The casting of Buddha images in the Sukhothai period is also an example of the perfect merge between art and faith.
The technology showing the prosperity and civilization of Sukhothai is the irrigation system with the construction of reservoirs and glazed terra cotta water pipes to deliver water into the city. Dikes, moats, and ponds from the Sukhothai period can still be seen nowadays. Besides, the production of the famous “Celadon” wares, which were exported to many countries, shows the high craftsmanship of the Sukhothai people.” (from the “Thailand National Periodic Report, Section II)
The Sukhothai Historical Park: a World Heritage
The last report on the status of Sukhothai, according to the website of UNESCO, dates back to 2003. According to that report the Sukhothai Historical Park employed 140 people, 123 of which were temporary employees. During my last visits, I focused a bit more on the staff maintaining different sites. More research will have to be done here but at most sites I saw people working, mostly cutting grass and weeds. The permanent staff is the people who sell the tickets and work in the Ramkamhaeng Museum. The staff in the Tourist Information Center were students.
It seems every site has someone who is responsible for looking after the site. Even at rarely visited sites such as Wat Phong Men and Wat Thup Kao, I saw people cutting the grass. At the rather remote Wat Sangkhawat there was a team of five persons restoring some of the brickwork of the temple.
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