Since the Sukhothai Period, traditions dictated
the construction of three state temples in the capital city:
Maha That, Ratchaburana, and Ratchapraditsathan. Rama IV had
Wat Ratchapradit built in 1864. It was his state temple, and
the first to observe the king's then newly constituted Buddhist
order, Thammayut.
After paying homage to the president image in the hall,
turn around to admire the mural opposite the image. It is
the depiction of the historic event when Rama IV went to
Wa Ko to observe the total solar eclipse in 1868. The king,
an avid self-taught astronomer, accurately calculated the
phenomenon. He was very keen on science and technology,
so much so that he has been recognized by the UNESCO as
“Father of Thailand's Science.” The other murals record
the twelve annual royal ceremonies, such as the light floats
in the twelfth month, the Triyampawai , and the Royal Ploughing
Ceremony. |
