Phra Chao Kao Tue

Phra Mueang Kaew ordered the casting of Phra Chao Kao Tue in 1504 with the aim to install it as the principle Buddha image in the vihara of Wat Phra Singh. The casting was completed in 1510 but was unable to be moved inside the city. The Buddha Image thus was subsequently moved from the cast location to be housed in the ubosot of Wat Buppharam or Wat Suan Dok. There were the grand almsgiving ceremony and a feast.

Bronze casting

Announced to be registered in the Government Gazette, Book 52, Section 75, 8 March 1935

This Buddha image sits on a half-lotus seat on a neat base displaying the Subduing Mara posture. It has an oval face, small knotted hairs, high ushnisha, high flaming halo, narrowed eyes looking downward, mouth slightly parted, knot jaw, symmetrical body, oblique robe, and large split ends centipede fang shaped sanghati reaching belly.

It is an example of the large Lanna art Buddha image that is still in the near perfect condition.

A large sanghati is found in many Buddha images those built during the reign of Phra Muang Kaew and commonly found in Ayutthaya art. It shows the influence of Ayutthaya art in Lanna art.

1. Phra Buddha Sihing at the Bhutthaisawan Throne Hall, Bangkok is an example of a Buddha image which, although creating history, doesn’t appear, but from the form, it should be built in the same reign because of the style of the large sanghati as well.

2. The Subduing Mara Buddha Image of the Bhutthaisawan Throne Hall, Bangkok, is an example of a Buddha image that has the same characteristics as Phra Chao Kao Tue and has an inscription at the base indicating the year of creating, which is 1497 indicating that it was also built during the reign of Phra Muang Kaew.

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

รัตนปัญญาเถระ, พระ. ชินกาลมาลีปกรณ์. กรุงเทพฯ: กรมศิลปากร, 2552.