Phra Serm

No construction information is available, but it is assumed that it was built in the mid-21^st century BE.

Bronze

Registered as archaeological site in the Government Gazette, Volume 66 Issue 64, on 22 November 1949.

This Buddha image is in seating posture and a subduing Mara attitude. It has small hair buds, flame-like halo, oval and small face, narrow forehead, curving eyebrows, small and prominent nose, and slender body. The monastic cloth splits and extends to the abdomen. The fingers are small and of the same length.

An example of Lanchnag Buddha image in Bangkok that has related legend with Phra Sai.

Phra Serm is similar to Phra Chao Aong Teu at Wat Srichompoo Aong Teu, which is an example of a Lanchang Buddha image that has several influences form Lanna. This is different from Lanchang Buddha image in the later period, which lines on the faces are deep, the mouth is small, the lips are thick, the body is slender and the fingers are large and of the same length.

The legend mentions that Phra Sai was built by three daughters of King Chetthathiraj in 1566 together with Phra Suk and Phra Sai. These were named after the three daughters. During production, there was a white cloth man coming to help dry the kiln and there were three rings at the base of the Buddha images. After production, these Buddha images were enshrined at Wat Phon Chai in Lanna kingdom. Whenever there was a war, these three images would be hidden at Kwai cave and would be moved back when the war was over. After that, King Suriyaman asked Phra Sai to perform miracle if the city were to be peaceful. When he took the throne, a miracle happened. Later, in the reign of King Rama 3, he brought these three images across Khong River, but one (Phra Suk) of them was drown. The two remaining images were enshrined at Wat Pho chai before being brought to Bangkok in the reign of King Rama 4. They were first enshrined at Bawornratchawang before moved to Wat Prathumwanaram. Based on the art characteristics, Phra Serm might have been built during the time of King Chetthathiraj, but is different from Phra Sai at Wat Pho Chai that was built in a later period.

1. Phra Sai at Wat Phochai Nongkhai. According to a legend, this was built at the same time with Phra Serm, but from the art characteristics, it might have been built later around Mid – Late 22^nd century BE.

2. Phra Chao Aong Teu at Wat Srichompoo Aong Teu Nongkhai. This is an important Buddha image that was built in the reign of King Chetthathiraj and has similar art characteristics with Phra Serm.

ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์. เจดีย์ พระพุทธรูป ฮูปแต้ม สิม ศิลปะลาวและอีสาน. กรุงเทพฯ: มิวเซียมเพรส, 2555.

ประภัสรร์ ชูวิเชียร. ศิลปะลาว. กรุงเทพฯ: มติชน, 2557.

ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์. พระพุทธรูปในประเทศไทย : รูปแบบ พัฒนาการ และความเชื่อของคนไทย. กรุงเทพฯ: ภาควิชาประวัติศาสตร์ศิลปะ คณะโบราณคดี มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2556.