The Assembly or Ordination Hall
This large hall with triple-tired roof was built during the reign of King Rama I.
The low boundary wall of the chapel is decorated with coloured tiles painted in delicate colours with flowers, leaves and bird. These tiles were
obtained from China in the Third Reign when trade with China flourished and Chinese influence was introduced into the art and architecture of
Thailand. Around the base of the Assembly Hall are gilded figures of Garudas
holding nagas, while Vishnu riding Garuda dominates the magnificent gable ends.
The outer walls of the hall when first built in the time of King Rama I, were of gilt on a reddish lacquer background. King Rama III commanded that the walls be
redecorated with stucco mouldings, gilt and decorated with glass mosaics. At the front and rear of the hall are three doors and three stair-cases on each side. The central
doorway is reserved for royal entrance. On ceremonial occasions, the door to the north is used exclusively by monks, while the one to the south is reserved for members
of the royal family and other dignitaries. The door and window panels are noted for their exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay work of the First Reign. Approximately two thousand
pieces of mother-of-pearl, were used in each square foot of the design. The six doors of the Assembly Hall are each guarded by a pair of Khmer-style bronze lions.
The central pair at the front are believed to have been brought from Kampuchea by King Rama I while the rest are immitations cast in Bangkok in the same reign.
Inside the Hall the Image of Emerald Buddha presides. It is caved out of a large piece of semi-precious green stone, seated in meditation on a raised gilt throne.
The length from knee to knee of the image is 48.3 cm. and the height is 66 cm. Three times annually, the reigning king or a prince appointed by the king performs the ritual
change of the Emerald Buddha's seasonal attire. Of the seasonal costumes, those for the summer and rainy seasons were made by Rama I, the winter one by Rama III.
The summer costume comprises a jewelled crown, armlets, bracelets, a breast pendant, and other typical items of royal attire --all made of enameled gold and embedded
with a variety of precious and semi-precious stones. The rainy season costume is a monk's robe of embossed gold with a headpiece and flame finial of enameled gold
studded with sapphires. The winter costume is a jewel-fringed rectangular wrap of gold-mesh which is worn draped over both shoulders on top of the rainy season attire.
The head-piece is of gold studded with diamonds.
The Emerald Buddha is seated on a throne of wood covered with gold foil, designed to resemble the aerial chariot of celestial beings in Hindu mythology.
The throne is of mid-19th century craftsmanship and is noted for its fine proportions. On lower pedestals, flanking the Emerald Buddha two three-metre high
golden standing images of the Buddha in royal attire have special historical significance. They were cast by Rama III and dedicated to Rama I and
Rama II. He gave the name "Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke" to one, "Phra Buddha Lertla Sulalai" (changed to Phra Buddha Lertla Napalai in the Fourth Reign) to the
other, and issued a proclamation commanding his subjects to call the two preceeding monarchs by the names of the two golden Buddha images in place of the previous appellations of Rama I as
"The Initial Reign" and Rama II as "The Middle Reign" which he considered inauspicious for the Dynasty since his name would have been "The Final Reign".
The images are cast in bronze, three metres high and wearing the Emperon's ornaments covered with gold weighing 38.64 kilogrammes. The ornaments are in gold studded with gems.
|
