Wat Borom Niwat Ratchaworawihan, Buddhist temple in Rong Mueang, Thailand
Wat Borom Niwat Ratchaworawihan is a registered historic Buddhist temple in the Rong Mueang neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand. The compound holds several buildings with traditional tiered roofs, wooden carvings, and a central shrine housing the main Buddha statue named Phra Thotsaphonlayan in the Maravijaya pose.
The temple was founded in 1834 by the monk who would later become King Mongkut, or Rama IV, and was originally called Wat Borommasuk. It was later renamed and renovated during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V.
The murals inside were painted by Khrua In Khong, a monk and artist who was among the first in Thailand to use Western perspective techniques in religious painting. The images show Buddhist scenes but look different from classic Thai temple art because of the depth and shading he applied.
The temple is located close to Bangkok railway station and a skytrain stop, making it easy to reach by public transport. Visitors should bring clothing that covers the shoulders and knees, as this is required at all Buddhist temples in Thailand.
Khrua In Khong was a Buddhist monk who never traveled abroad but learned Western perspective from European prints and contact with missionaries in Bangkok. His paintings in this temple are considered among his earliest known works, showing him experimenting with depth and shading.
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