Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh

Silver Pagoda
Wat Ubaosoth Ratanaram
(Wat Preah Keo Morokot)
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
វត្តឧបោសថរតនារាម
(វត្តព្រះកែវមរកត)
Location in Cambodia
Basic information
Location Phnom Penh city
Geographic coordinates 11°33′45″N 104°55′54″E / 11.56250°N 104.93167°E / 11.56250; 104.93167Coordinates: 11°33′45″N 104°55′54″E / 11.56250°N 104.93167°E / 11.56250; 104.93167
Affiliation Theravada Buddhism
Country Cambodia
Architectural description
Founder King Norodom I
Completed 19th century

The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. The official name is Wat Ubaosoth Ratanaram (Khmer: វត្តឧបោសថរតនារាម) as known as Wat Preah Keo Morakot (Khmer: វត្តព្រះកែវមរកត, "Temple of the Emerald-Crystal Buddha") which is commonly shortened to Wat Preah Keo (Khmer: វត្តព្រះកែវ) in Khmer.

The vihara houses many national treasures including gold and jeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small green crystal Buddha (the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia) — some sources maintain it was made of Baccarat Crystal in 17th century but that's not possible since Baccarat Crystal didn't exist until 18th century; other sources indicate it was made in 19th century by Lalique, a glass designer who lived in 19th-20th century.and a life-sized gold Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which weighs 25 carats. It was created in the palace workshops during 1906 and 1907, the gold Buddha weighs in at 90 kg and is dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath. During King Norodom Sihanouk's pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodeled with Italian marble. However, only a small area of these tiles are available to be viewed by the public on entering the pagoda.

The wall that surrounds the structures is covered with murals of the Reamker painted in 1903-1904 by Cambodian artists directed by the architect of the Silver Pagoda Oknha Tep Nimit Mak.[1]

It is a notable wat (Buddhist temple) in Phnom Penh; Its grounds being used for various national and royal ceremonies. The cremated remains of Norodom Sihanouk are interred in the stupa of Kantha Bopha located on the temple's compound.

View of the Silver Pagoda complex

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL71_0607.pdf

Literature

  • Lenzi, Iola (2004). Museums Of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Archipelago Press. p. 200 pages. ISBN 981-4068-96-9.


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