Ubosot Wat Ratbophit Sathitmahasimaram

Keywords : Phra Ubosot, Wat Ratbophit , Wat Ratbophit Sathitmahasimaram, Ubosot of Wat Ratbophit , Ubosot of Wat Ratbophit Sathitmahasimaram

Site common name	Wat Ratbophit Sathitmahasimaram
Site alternative name	Wat Ratbophit
Type of artwork	Architecture
Sub district	Wat Ratchabophit
District	Khet Phra Nakhon
Province	Bangkok
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates DMS	Lat : 13.748971 Long : 100.497339
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 661888.44 N : 1520463.65
Place of artwork	The temple’s public precints

History of production	King Rama V commissioned Prince Pradit Worakarn, who worked for the Department of Fine Arts, to supervise the temple, but the Prince passed away before the construction was completed. Thus, Prince Sapphasatsuphakit was assigned as the next supervisor, but he then passed away, too. The King hence commissioned Chao Praya Thammatikornatibodi.(M.R. Pum Malakul) to build the temple, and the construction was finally completed.
Art	The interior of Ubosot represents the combination of Thai traditional art and western art. Walls and ceilings are decorated with golden floral-foliage motifs, as well as between each window which represents the Unalom sign and the alphabet จ. which is the first letter of the name of King Rama V. The interior central door pediment represents the Emblem of Thailand in the reign of King Rama V which comprises the Royal Regalia, the Emblem of the Royal House of Chakri, Erawan elephant, a white elephant, a Kris, Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, seven-tiered umbrella flanked by a lion and a Gajasimha. The upper wall was painted in narrative scenes designed by Prince Prawit Chumsai, a significant artist and craftsman in the reign of King Rama V. In the middle of Ubosot, there is the main Buddha Image in meditation seated in cross-legged position on an Italian marble pedestal. The image is made of bronze and gold. The gold used was once the King Rama V’s ornament since his childhood. Over the Buddha Image, there is a Royal Nine-tiered white umbrella which was once used in the Royal funeral of King Rama V. Beneath the marble pedestal, relics of King Rama II, King Rama III, King Rama IV, King Rama V and King Rama VII were kept.
Key academic information	Eventhough the exterior characteristics of this Ubosot are traditional, the interior structure and decoration show strong influence of Gothic style.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Rattanakosin
Age	25th Buddhist century
Religion	Buddhism
Sect	Theravada
Religion and belief	Theravada

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-08-01
Record creator	Patsaweesiri Premkulanan
Bibliography	สุริยา รัตนกุล. พระอารามหลวงในกรุงเทพมหานคร. นครปฐม : มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล, 2550-2552. ชัชพล ไชยพร บรรณาธิการ. ประมวลเอกสารจดหมายเหตุรัชกาลที่ 5 เรื่องวัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมาราม. กรุงเทพฯ : วัดราชบพิธสถิตมหาสีมารามและสำนักงานพระพุทธศาสนาแห่งชาติ, 2553. ศุภชัย เสริมสุขเจริญชัย. “งานตกแต่งภายในพระอุโบสถวัดราชบพิธ สถิตมหาสีมาราม : การปรับเปลี่ยนสู่ศิลปะตะวันตกในสมัยรัชกาลที่ 5” (วิทยานิพนธ์ศิลปศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต (ประวัติศาสตร์ศิลปะ) บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2555.)