Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot

Keywords : Bangkok National Museum , Wangna, Phra Mahapichai RatcharotRoyal Chariots, Royal Chariots

Artwork alternative name	The Royal Chariot
Site common name	Bangkok National Museum
Site alternative name	Wang Na
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
District	Khet Phra Nakhon
Province	Bangkok
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 13.758482 Long : 100.491914
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 661295.58 N : 1521515.14
Place of artwork	The Royal Funeral Chariot Hall Bangkok National Museum

History of production	King Rama I requested to build Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot for the royal funeral ceremony of Somdet Phra Prathom Borommahachanok in 1795. The King required that the royal chariot be large according to Ayutthaya’s tradition. After that, Chao Fa Krom Phraya Thep Sudawadi passed away in 1799; the King thus ordered to place her royal urn on Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot as well.
Production process	Wood carving, gilding, lacquer, glass mosaics
Size	Height 10.2 m., length 15.3 m.
Art	The lower part of the royal chariot contains 4 wheels, the front or prow of the chariot is decorated with Naga’s head and flame motifs, and the stern in the rear is adorned with Naga’s tail and flame motifs. The central part of the royal chariot contains superimposed pedestals with Thepphanom figurines above which a small pavilion with multi-tiered pointed roof is enshrined. Curtains with tassels hang down along the four indented poles. The pavilion’s base is carved in traditional Thai patterns featuring floral and flame patterns, notched and trimmed leaf patterns, and deities performing the Añjali Mudrā. The whole components of the pavilion with multi-tiered pointed roof are gilded and decorated with colored-glass mosaics.
School	Artisans
Key academic information	Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot is a royal chariot used in royal funeral ceremonies in the Rattanakosin period. The royal chariot serves to transfer royal urns containning the body of kings and high-ranked royal familiy members in a Royal Procession to Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot contains a small pavilion (Busabok) which is an open structure with a superimposed pointed roof called Ruan Yot. These elements mark the structure as palaces, high-ranked buildings, possibly referred to celestial palaces or Vimāna. The lower part of the small pavilion consists of a multi-tiered pedestal decorated with gilded Thepphanom figurines (Devatas performing the Añjali Mudrā hand gesture) and Nāga. This reflects the belief regarding Mount Meru, the center of the cosmic realm, surrounded with mountains and the Himawanta Forest. Such belief is related to the monarchy and Royal Court. The transfer of royal urns housing in Phra Mahapichai Ratcharot thus resembles the late kings’ and royal family members’ ascending to the celestial palace at the center of the cosmic realm.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Rattanakosin
Age	24th Buddhist century
Religion and belief	Traditions in the Thai Royal Court
Related artwork	Vetchayan Ratcharot, Ratcharot Noi

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-07-01
Record creator	Patsaweesiri Premkulanan
Bibliography	กรมศิลปากร. เครื่องประกอบพระราชอิสริยยศ ราชยาน ราชรถ และพระเมรุมาศ. กรุงเทพฯ : กองวรรณกรรมและประวัติศาสตร์, 2539. สาโรจน์ มีวงษ์สม เรียบเรียง.ราชรถและราชยาน. กรุงเทพฯ : เอส.ที.พี.เวิลด์ มีเดีย, 2542.