Yakṣas at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

The exact date of construction is unknown. 8 of the Yakṣa sculptures might presumably be created in the reign of King Rama III and the rest were built in the reign of King Rama V.

Stucco decorated with glazed porcelain tiles

The building of these Yakṣas is mentioned in a book titled ‘Archives Regarding the Restoration of Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and the Grand Palace on the Occasion of the Bicentennial Celebration of Rattanakosin in 1982: Part I Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram’ as follows: “…during the restoration of Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in order to prepare the celebrations of Bangkok’s 100^th anniversary and the Emerald Buddha in 1882, King Rama V requested the royal family members to join in the restoration and commissioned Prince Narisaranuvadtivongs as the head to restore Ho Phrakhanthararat and Phra Mondop Yod Prang including laying new stone tiles, repairing the boundary wall, restoring the ceilings, paintings, stucco, and exterior niches, and creating a pair of Yakṣa stucco sculptures adorned with glazed porcelain.

The 12 sculptures are made of stucco with colorful glazed porcelain adornments according to Rammakian including different types of crowns, blouses, costumes, pointed sandals, etc. Their bodies were also painted according to the literary work.

6 pairs of Yakṣas are as follows:

1.Suriyaphop – Intharachit

2.Mangkonkan – Wirunhok

3.Thotsakhichanthon – Thotsakhiriwan

4.Chakrawat – Atsakanmarasun

5.Thotsakan - Sahatsadecha

Gigantic sculptures of Yakṣas standing in pairs around the ordination hall or Ubosot of Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram; and 6 pairs of them stand at each side of the gallery entrance with a club in their hands, facing towards the Ubosot. These Yakṣas are characters in Ramayana or Rammakian in Thai which was composed in Thai version by King Rama I. The chief Yakṣas are such as Ravana or Thotsakan (the green Yakṣa) and Sahatsadecha (the white Yakṣa). The 12 Yakṣas serve as Dvarapala or the guardian of the gates at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, and displaying Yakṣa sculptures at the royal temple may refer to a mark of honor to the kings often refered to as Rama of an avatar of Viṣṇu who was victorious over the Yakṣas. Sculptures of Dvarapala Yakṣas can also be found in several importan royal temples in early Rattanakosin period; for instance, Wat Arunratchawaram (Wat Chaeng) and Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhararam (Wat Pho). This shows that Rammakian is not only a precious royal literary work, but it also affects artistic works in early Rattanakosin period. Although Rammakian is derived from Brahmanism’s beliefs, it’s interested in using the Yakṣas, the antagonists, as Dvarapalas who protect Buddhist monasteries. This may imply some morals, namely good always wins over evil.

Ramayana

Yakṣas at Wat Arunratchawararam or Wat Chaeng, Yakṣas at Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhararam or Wat Pho

นริศรานุวัดติวงศ์, สมเด็จเจ้าฟ้ากรมพระยา. สาส์นสมเด็จ. เล่มที่ 26. พระนคร: องค์การค้าของคุรุสภา, 2505.

จดหมายเหตุเรื่องปฏิสังขรณ์วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม ครั้งรัชกาลที่ 3.พระนคร : โรงพิมพ์โสภณพิพรรฒธนากร, 2465.

กรมศิลปากร. จดหมายเหตุการบูรณะปฏิสังขรณ์วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดารามและพระบรมมหาราชวัง ในการฉลองพระนครครบ 200 ปี พุทธศักราช 2525 : ภาคที่ 1 วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2525.