Rama lll's Royal Seat

Rama lll was an efficient merchant since his youth as Prince Chetsadabodin. He was so highly successful that his royal father teasingly called him “Chaosua”(millionaire in Chinese). He was keen on Chinese artistic style. He had it integreated with traditional Thai style, which was later khown as the “royally preferred artistic style.The very first temple the king had tried this idea on was Wat Chom Thong, an old Ayutthaya temple almost entirely renovated with addittonal donations from Chinese merchants at Sampheng and Chinese craftsmen. Rama ll re-named it Wat Ratchaorot, meaning the temple of a king’s son. The architectural style here has been considered prototypical of rama lll’s ‘preferred artistic style’ before his enthronement.Other dignitaries later emulated the style in other temples.

Many visitors to the monastic quarters may not notice a small stone seat under atree near the hall. Don’t ever take a rest upon it for it was Rama lll’s royal reat during his visit to supervise the construction.