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The Buddhaisawan Chapel. The step and red poles on the lawn in front of the chapel are howdah mount, used by royalty to mount elephants. Phra Buddha Sihing image and very old beautiful paintings inside.

Buddhaisawan Chapel (พระที่นั่งพุทไธสวรรย์) The Buddhaisawan Chapel was built in 1795 as the private chapel for the Prince residing in the Palace. It houses the 15th century Phra Buddha Sihing image, the second most highly revered Buddha image in Thailand. The paintings inside the chapel are the oldest murals in Bangkok. The panels between the windows depict scenes from the life of the Buddha.The murals are painted in the classic style, in two dimensions in tempera coloured with mineral and earth pigments. Rejecting extreme asceticism, Gautama, having eaten to restore himmself, casts his food bowl in the waters of a river, at the bottom of which is depicted the palace of the Sacred Serpent or Naga King, guardian of rivers. Surrounded by grieving disciples, the dying Lord Buddha attains Parinirvana, release from the cycle of rebirths. A red robed monk appears between the curtains to comfort a follower.     Map of National Museum

Since : April 22, 1999