Royal Emblems of the Thai Kings

King Rama V ordered to build some pavilions for housing the Royal Emblems of King Rama I-V as a mark of his piety in Buddhism. The King hence created his Royal Emblem and made offerings of the Royal Emblem to the Buddha in the Ubosot Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. The Royal Emblems of King Rama IV – IX were created in 1982 on the occasion of the bicentenary of Rattanakosin in the reign of King Rama IX.

Gilded metal decorated with glass, marble carving, bronze casting

The pavilions were conserved on the occasion of the bicentenary of Rattanakosin in 1982.

Each pavilion is made of gilded metal decorated with glass. The open pavilions have redented columns on each corner which support the pointed roof. Each column of the pavilions’ are adorned with Thepphanom motifs or Devatas performing the Añjali Mudrā hand gesture, while the multi-tiered pedestals decorated with rows of gilded Thepphanom figurines.

The northern pavilion houses the Royal Emblems of King Rama I-III as follows:

the Royal emblem of King Rama I is a tiered crown without ear decoration;

the Royal emblem of King Rama II is Garuda seizing Nāga; and

the Royal emblem of King Rama III is a celestial palace.

One of the pavilion in the south houses the Royal Emblems of King Rama IV which is a tiered crown with ear decorations and the other one enshrines King Rama V’s Royal Emblem, namely Phra Kiao or a coronet.

The pavilion in the northeast houses 4 Royal emblems as follows:

the Royal Emblem of King Rama VI is a Vajira or thunderbolt;

the Royal Emblem of King Rama VII is 3 arrows named Phrasaengson Phrommat, Phrasaengson Pralaiwat, and Phrasaengson Akhaniwat. Above the arrow rack, the Emblem of the Royal House of Chakri is located under the Great Crown of Victory;

the Royal Emblem of King Rama VIII is a deity seated on a lotus throne in Lalitasana pose; and

The Royal Emblem of King Rama IX is the Atthathit Uthumphonratcha-at Royal Throne with an Unalom symbol enclosed by a Chakra and its rays of light. Nophapadon Maha Saweta Chatra or the White Nine-tiered Umbrella is over the throne.

Pavilions housing Royal Emblems of the previous 9 kings of the Rattanakosin Era in Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram reveal symbols used by the kings of the Royal House of Chakri to signify the Royal Cypher of each King. The Royal Emblems can be used as Royal Seals to stamp on important State ducuments

Using these symbols was initiated by King Mongkut who issued an announcment regarding uses of symbols instate of the king’s names, namely an Unalom symbol or a crown represents King Rama I’s name; Garuda seizing Nāga is substituted for the name of King Rama II; a palace is used instead of King Rama III’s name; and King Mongkut’s name is replaced by a tiered crown. The announcement used the emblems to avoid mentioning the kings’ names. The above-mentioned Royal Emblems indicate the concept of symbolizing the kings’ former names with some relevant symbols such as King Rama IV’s Royal Emblem is a tiered crown because his former name was Prince Mongkut (a crown). Such concept is still in use presently.

Royal Coat of Arms of Siam, Royal Emblems of the kings in the Rattanakosin Period

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

สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ประวัติวัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม. กรุงเทพฯ : สำนักพระราชวัง, 2534.