Phra Sai

No construction information is available, but it is assumed that it was built in the late 22^nd – early 23^rd century BE.

Bronze

This Buddha image is in seating posture and a subduing Mara attitude on a lotus base. It has small hair buds, flame-like halo, round face, sharp shin, clear hair lines, curved out eyebrows, straight-looking eyes, smiling mouth of Lanchang style and thick lips. The monastic cloth splits and extends to the abdomen. The fingers are small and of the same length.

An example of an important Buddha image in the northeast

1. Buddha images of Lanchang art in the late 22^nd to early 23^rd century BE are considered genuine Lanchang Buddha images.

2. Now, Phra Sai is enshrined on a throne with a highly elevated base. This might be an influence from Rattanakosin art.

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 Serm at Wat Prathumawanaram Bangkok. According to a legend, this was built at the same time with Phra Serm, but from the art characteristics, it might have been built earlier around the late 21^st century.

2. Phra In-Plaeng at Wat In-Plaeng Nakorn Panom. According to a legend, it was believed that Indra helped with the construction and the art characteristics are similar to Phra Sai.

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

สุรศักดิ์ ศรีสำอาง. ลำดับกษัตริย์ลาว. กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักโบราณคดีและพิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ กรมศิลปากร, 2545.

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

เจริญ ตันมหาพราน. พระพุทธรูปล้านช้าง.กรุงเทพฯ: ปราชญ์, 2554.