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Naga 9 Thai Art • Amulet, Chiang Khan (2026)

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27/07/2026

WAT PHRA MAHATHAT INSCRIBED AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, MARKING A HISTORIC FIRST FOR SOUTHERN THAILAND

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA — Following a dedicated 14-year journey on the Tentative List, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan was officially inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday, 25 July 2026. The landmark decision was passed by a unanimous resolution during the 48th Ordinary Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan.

The designation marks a historic milestone: Wat Phra Mahathat becomes Southern Thailand’s first World Heritage site and the nation’s sixth cultural listing, bringing Thailand’s total count of UNESCO World Heritage properties to nine (six Cultural and three Natural).

A high-level Thai delegation—led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin and Minister of Culture Sabida Thaiseth—was present to accept the honor.

A 14-YEAR CAMPAIGN RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE

Reflecting on the milestone, Minister Suchart expressed immense gratitude on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, praising the long-term collaboration between state agencies, heritage experts, and local communities.

"We are immensely proud that Wat Phra Mahathat has been recognized for its Outstanding Universal Value as a regional center of Buddhism dating back to the 8th century," stated Minister Suchart. "This nomination represents a collective effort across multiple agencies and local communities. Beyond its cultural significance, this milestone will play a crucial role in distributing revenue to local communities and stimulating sustainable tourism across the southern region."

The World Heritage Committee inscribed the site under two specific cultural criteria:

Criterion (ii): Demonstrating a significant interchange of human values and architectural influence across regions.

Criterion (vi): Direct association with living traditions, artistic expressions, and spiritual beliefs.

UNESCO acknowledged Wat Phra Mahathat as a vital architectural synthesis of Brahman-Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism. The site seamlessly integrates artistic traditions from South Asia's Pala-Nalanda style, Central Java, Sri Lanka, and Mon culture—ultimately serving as an architectural prototype that influenced religious design across Southeast Asia.

Beyond its physical architecture, UNESCO highlighted the complex as a thriving "Living Heritage" site. The temple remains the spiritual heart of Nakhon Si Thammarat, serving as the focal point for centuries-old traditions such as the Hae Pha Khuen That festival (wrapping sacred cloth around the central chedi) and traditional southern performing arts like Nora, which is itself recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS AND STRATEGIC SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

The announcement sparked immediate celebrations in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Crowds gathered at the temple compound to pay homage to the central Phra Borommathat Chedi and watch the live broadcast from South Korea, while provincial authorities hosted grand celebratory chanting ceremonies and cultural performances highlighting Thai identity.

Following the inscription, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will work alongside provincial and local stakeholders to implement a long-term strategic management plan. The initiative aims to strictly maintain international conservation standards while fostering high-quality, sustainable cultural tourism.

In alignment with these efforts, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), alongside public and private partners, has launched a dedicated campaign to promote the site globally.

"Nakhon Si Thammarat is poised to become a premier global cultural destination," said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. "We are launching targeted tourism initiatives to invite travelers from around the world to experience this magnificent 'Living World Heritage' firsthand."

14/07/2026

FOREIGN-BORN MONK ELEVATED TO THAILAND’S HIGHEST ECCLESIASTICAL RANK

Under a royal command published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, Phra Phrom Phatcharayanamuni—widely known as Ajahn Jayasaro—made history as the first foreign-born Buddhist monk to be appointed a Somdet Phra Ratchakhana, Thailand's highest ecclesiastical rank.

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) elevated him to the title of Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanamuni. He was one of eight senior monks promoted in recognition of their profound contributions to Buddhism.

Born Shaun Michael Chiverton on January 7, 1958, on the Isle of Wight, England, his early life was defined by a spiritual quest for truth and meaning. After traveling extensively, his search led him to Buddhist teachings and, ultimately, to Thailand in 1978.

There, he became a disciple of the late Phra Bodhinyanathera (Luang Por Chah Subhaddo) at Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani province. A renowned meditation master of the Thai Forest Tradition, Luang Por Chah was instrumental in introducing Theravada Buddhism to the Western world.

Ajahn Jayasaro was ordained as a novice in 1980 and subsequently as a monk, with Luang Por Chah serving as his preceptor. He dedicated himself to Dhamma study and the rigorous practice of forest meditation. From 1997 to 2002, he served as the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat in Ubon Ratchathani, an international monastery dedicated to training foreign monks in Luang Por Chah's lineage.

In 2020, Ajahn Jayasaro was granted Thai citizenship by special royal permission. His ascent through the ecclesiastical hierarchy includes his 2024 promotion to the deputy Somdet Phra Ratchakhana rank under the title Phra Phrom Phatcharayanamuni, preceding his historic current elevation.

Currently residing at the Ban Rai Thawsi monastic residence in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanamuni has spent decades making Buddhist teachings accessible globally through Dhamma talks, meditation retreats, and extensive writings. Notably, he authored Uppalamani, the definitive biography detailing the life and spiritual legacy of Luang Por Chah.

From a young Englishman seeking answers to a revered pillar of the Thai Forest Tradition, his historic elevation represents more than a personal milestone; it underscores Buddhism’s enduring capacity to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries within the history of the Thai Sangha.

02/06/2026

BANGKOK — A new landmark Chinese shrine has officially opened in Bangkok, blending traditional Teochew architecture, a royal tribute, and a charitable legacy spanning more than a century.

Constructed to commemorate His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday, The White Jade Tai Hong Gong Shrine opened to the public on May 25, 2026, on Charoen Rat Road in the Sathon district. On May 20, Their Majesties the King and Queen officially presided over the opening ceremony, where His Majesty formally named the new building.

The shrine is operated by the Por Teck Tung Foundation, one of Thailand's oldest and most prominent Chinese charitable organizations. The foundation’s roots date back to 1899, when 710 local Chinese residents pooled funds to create a public cemetery open to everyone, regardless of social status, ethnicity, or religion.

The centerpiece of the shrine is a white jade statue of Luang Pu Tai Hong, a Song Dynasty monk revered for his humanitarian work, including treating the sick, feeding the poor, and organizing burials for the unclaimed. Carved from three pieces of white jade, the statue stands 5.10 meters tall and weighs 51.50 tonnes, making it one of the largest white jade statues in Thailand. It is flanked by white jade statues of the Bodhisattvas Ksitigarbha (地藏王菩萨) and Guanyin, each measuring 3.365 meters in height and weighing 16.50 tonnes.

Designed in the classic southern Chinese Teochew architectural style, the project was a joint collaboration between Thai and Chinese experts from Kasem Design and Construction and the Tianyi Ancient Architecture Design Office in China. The design features red granite columns carved with dragons, ceramic roof tiles adorned with traditional cut-porcelain patterns, and walls decorated with 35 carved and painted white jade panels illustrating Buddhist teachings. Additionally, eleven external granite reliefs depict the life story of Venerable Tai Hong.

The project officially commenced on June 14, 2021, with a foundation-laying ceremony presided over by Privy Council President Gen. Surayud Chulanont.

Situated on a 4-rai plot adjacent to the foundation’s 80th Birthday Commemorative Garden, the complex features a total usable area of over 11,000 square meters, which includes an underground parking lot, a multipurpose hall, and landscaped gardens.

In alignment with the foundation's charitable mission, all incense, ceremonial paper, and amulets are provided to visitors free of charge.

Visitor Information
* Hours: 07:00 AM – 06:00 PM (Open daily)
* Address: 88 Charoen Rat Road, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
* Email: [email protected]
* Phone: +66 2 225 0020

20/12/2025

Good News for the New Year: "Phra Chao Tong Song Khreung" to Return to Phayao After 65 Years

Phayao Province – Heartwarming news welcomes the upcoming Buddhist Era New Year. The "Phra Chao Tong Song Khreung," an ornate, decorated Buddha image in the distinct Phayao school of art, is prepared to return for enshrinement at Wat Khun Tam in Phayao Province. We join in rejoicing in the great merit performed by Khun Poj Thaphrajan for this noble contribution.

On December 19, 2025, a report from the page of Mr. Jeeradej Sriwiraj (former Chairman of the Thai Buddha Image Admiration Association, Phayao branch) detailed the following:

A delegation led by Khun Phisan Techawiphak (Toy Muang Non), 1st Vice President of the Thai Buddha Image Admiration Association, alongside Khun Nirat Saenwong (Berm Nakornping Art), an expert in Northern Thai Buddha images and amulets, Khun Weerachai Chaijaroen (Joke Lamphun), and Prosecutor Nirun Nantaleet, met with Khun Poj Thaphrajan. The purpose was to inspect and verify the Buddhist iconography of a Chiang Saen-style decorated Buddha image (Phayao Royal craftsmanship) that had been missing for over 65 years, to determine if it was indeed the original lost statue.

Following a request from Wat Khun Tam to the Association, the experts reached a unanimous conclusion: "It is highly likely to be the same image." Regarding this, Khun Poj Thaphrajan expressed no objections. He had previously stated that regardless of the verification outcome, his original intention was to donate the Buddha image to Wat Khun Tam to serve as a spiritual center for the Buddhist community in Phayao. The return will proceed once the image is officially registered with the Fine Arts Department as the property of Wat Khun Tam. Additionally, members of the Thai Buddha Image Admiration Association have come together to contribute funds to join Khun Poj in this merit-making act.

Phayao TV reported that Phra Prasert Kunawaro, the Abbot of Wat Khun Tam, expressed his delight upon hearing the confirmation. He stated that community leaders and the villagers of Tam Nai are overjoyed, as they have waited for this moment for over 65 years. The Abbot thanked all coordinators, the experts who provided historical data, the Association, and especially Khun Poj Thaphrajan for his intent to return the image. The next steps will involve discussions with all parties to ensure a proper and respectful transition.

Congratulations to the people of Phayao on the return of this invaluable cultural heritage, which will remain a precious treasure of the land for generations to come.

Source: Images and information from the pages of Mr. Jeeradej Sriwiraj and Phayao TV.

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