Chinese stone statues at Wat Pho.
When visiting the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, you will notice many Chinese stone statues around the premises. The Wat Pho complex has 16 entrances and these stone carved statues are there to protect and guard the temple. Only two of the 16 gates are open to the public.
These stone carved statues come in different shapes and sizes and you will notice a lot of detail on them. The first time I saw these statues was back in 2008. It was difficult to tell for sure but I got the impression that they were influenced by the Chinese. In 2013 when I visited Thailand again, I had more time to study and admire the statues up close. They are very impressive.
The question arises if the stones statues are indeed Chinese or not?
First of all, it was very difficult to find information about these statues. There are so many on the premises and no real information is displayed to give you an idea where they came from or why they are there. Trying to do research on this topic was no easy and this is what I discovered. It seems like they are indeed Chinese and originally came from China as ballast.
I have learned that the statues are divided into different categories. Among the statues, you will find warriors with weapons, Chinese ladies, Philosophers, Chinese monks, noblemen, and four Marco Polo statues. That’s true and I can see that they are indeed grouped into different categories.
Different types of stones statues at Wat Pho.
The stone statues, in the shape of animals, are placed among the plants and trees for decoration. It was very difficult to find any information about their meaning or what they signify. Wouldn’t it be interesting to get more information about these statues and their history? Many interesting books on the temple are for sale at the souvenir shop. Sadly I never got round to buying any. I think it would be very interesting to read more about the statues and history of the Wat Pho temple.
When visiting the Wat Pho Temple and grounds, take some time and study the different statues. They are truly beautiful works of art.
Where: Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok, Thailand
Very interesting!
They are! Thank you for the visit.