The Golden Buddha of Wat Phayao is one of the most important Buddha statues in Thailand, like many of its kind it is made of solid gold and is typical of the luxury of royal patronage of the Sukothai and Ayutthaya periods.

Historically gold holds religious significance for the Thais. In Buddhist literature, both Pali and Sanskrit, the Buddha is described as having skin of gold, a golden complexion is the eleventh of the "32 characteristics of the Buddha". Many Buddha statues in Thailand are made of gold and gold leaf is stuck onto others as part of religious rituals.

Thai gold is an essential part of Thai history, the word "Siam", as Thailand was originally called by the Khmers means "golden" though this may have been a reference to the swarthy skin color of the Thais. The Indians however called it Suvannabhumi, "Land of Gold" and the Chinese, Jin Lin, "Peninsula of Gold". The gold trade, which stretches back about 2000 years, was probably the first contact that Thailand had with the outside world. Suphanburi; "Province of gold", in central Thailand and nearby Utong, " Plentiful gold", may have been centres of the gold industry.

After the decline of the Khmer power in the 13th century, Sukhothai emerged in the north and is regarded as the first Thai kingdom and the birthplace of Thai culture, language and alphabet. The Sukothai period is also significant for its legacy of sacred art and architecture, most of the existing golden Buddha are in the Sukhothai style. The largest of these (Phra Maha Suwanpatimakorn) is at Wat Traimit in Bangkok and it's also the largest solid gold Buddha in the world. There are also examples of Golden Buddha from Wat Mahan Aram, Wat Hong Rattanaram and others which have been relocated to Bangkok.

In the 15th century the focus of Thai Power moved to the Central Plains, north of present day Bangkok, with establishment of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Ayutthaya quickly expanded its power over most of the northern and central Thai states, but battled invasion from neighbours such as Burma.

During the Ayutthaya period, gold played a major role in the construction of Buddha statues, temples and palaces, so much so that it was considered the “Golden Age of Gold”. Gold leaf was used to cover the spires of palaces, pagodas and finials on the roof ridges and Buddha statues. Gold work was revived under King Rama I in Bangkok after the Royal city Ayutthaya was ruthlessly sacked and destroyed by a Burmese invasion in 1767.

The Golden Buddha of Wat Phayao, Saraburi is unique. It is one of the only examples of its kind outside of the capital Bangkok, and is the only surviving Golden Buddha in the Ayutthaya style, which is a mix of U-Thong and Sukhothai styles.

The Golden Buddha of Wat Phayao also has the highest percentage of gold at 70%. While the best known Golden Buddha, The Big Golden Buddha of Wat Traimit, is 40% gold and the Golden Buddha of Wat Mahanparam 60%. The other constituent of these statues is copper which gives the Golden Buddha’s a sheen that some consider more striking than pure gold alone.

Getting There:
From Saraburi city via Pichaironnarong Songkram Rd (road no.3041), at the junction go straight ahead and continue about 5 km to the next traffic junction then turn right across the Pasak River Bridge, drive straight to a T intersection then turn left for about 200 metres. Wat Phra Yao is located on the left hand side.

The Golden Buddha’s Appearance

Who made the Golden Buddha of Wat Phayao?

The Golden Buddha moves out of the Royal Ayutthaya Compound