Rattanakosin Period
1782 A.D. / 2325 B.E. to Present Day
After the civil war and the short lived Thonburi Kingdom under King Taksin, a new Kingdom was established by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) in 1782. He moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok and was the founder of “The House of Chakri”, the current royal ruling house of Thailand. During the Rattana Kosin Period, Kings of Chakri tried to keep the Kingship of Ayutthaya together by emphasizing the connections among the sovereign leaders. The first three Chakri Kings, by success of ruling, had brought the kingdom political stability that had been lacking in the Ayutthaya period.
Kings Rama II, III, and IV tried to create the first semblance of a modern government, creating ministries with chief ministers to help with the running of the government. King Rama IV was significantly interested in various western knowledges. When King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ascended to the throne as King of Siam in 1868, due to the pressure of old generation dignitaries and high officials, he decided to adopt many European and Western ideas. Under pressure from western imperialist powers parts of the old kingdom of Siam such as Laos and Cambodia came under French control. King Rama V had mad close contact with the western powers so that Siam could avoid being colonized. He himself was educated by Westerners, and was intent on reforming the monarchy along western lines. First he abolished the practice of kneeling and crawling in front of the monarch and repealed many laws concerning such protocol.
King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) created a monarchy based on western lines of an “Enlightened Ruler” absolute, but enlightened. He preserved man ancient aspects and rituals of the old Kingship, including his religious and feudal powers. His son, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI, succeeded in 1910) continued his father’s zeal for reformation and bringing the monarchy into the 20th century. He was succeeded by his brother, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in 1925.
In June 1932, a group of foreign educated students and military men called “The Promoters” carried out a bloodless Coup, seizing power and demanded that King Prajadhipok grant the people of Siam a constitution. The King agreed and in December of 1932 the people were granted a charter, ending almost 150years of absolute Chakri rule. From then on, the role of Monarch was supposedly relegated to that of a symbolic head of state. Yet his majesty is traditionally revered and inviolable according to the constitution. The King no longer had power in issuing laws and orders. In 1935 King Prajadhipok abdicated the throne.
Following his abdication King Ananda Mahidol succeeded him as Rama VIII but only for a short period as he was met with an accident and passed away. King Bhumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) ascended the throne and became the most beloved and active king of the Chakri dynasty through his reign of knowledge and development.
Knowledge About Rattankosin Period Amulets
The most important amulet in the Rattanakosin Period is the “Phra Somdej” Amulet (The top amulet in Thailand) Phra Somdej is named after the maker and conductor for their crafting, Somdej Phra Putacharn Toh Bramarangsi. The word Somdej is a highly respected royal honorific title added before the King’s, royal family’s, and also certain highly respected Patriach’’s names.
“Thus am I utterly well-sheltered, well-protected.
Through the power of the Victor, misfortunes are vanquished.
Through the power of the Dhamma, the enemy horde is vanquished.
Through the power of the Saṅgha, dangers are vanquished.
Guarded by the power of the True Dhamma, I go about in the Victor’s Cage.”
— Somdej Phra Buddhacarya Toh Brahmaramsi. Jinapanjara (Phra Kata Chinnabanchorn), Kingdom of Siam, Rattanakosin Period.
Phra Kata Chinabanchorn (The Victor’s Cage)
It is written that after Phra Somdej Toh received a ancient Buddhist manuscript found buried in a ruined temple near Kampaengpetch while traveling to visit relatives. That night around 3am, he was awoken by a nimitt (a holy vision) of what he described as a “Messenger”, a spirit in the form of a young man with sharp eyes dressed in white robes. The Messenger conveyed to Phra Somdej Toh that, while he walked the path close to the Lord Buddha, should he wish to give Amulets to the people as gifts that he should know how to properly bless and empower them. And how to project his will, his mindfulness into them, and the proper rituals to be used in their creation. Upon waking the next morning Phra Somdej Toh began studying the manuscript and found old forgotten mantras and chants relevant to the protection and empowering of the faithful. So he began translating what he could of the ancient script and recomposing it to be more clearly understood. The result is one of the, if not the most well known Buddhist Mantra Chant in the country to this day, the Chinabanchorn Kata.
Statue of Phra Somdej Toh at Wat Bot, Prathum Thani, Thailand
The story of the Phra Somdej Amulets started after Somdej Toh entered the monkhood in 1807 A.D. (B.E. 2350)
Name: Somdej Phra Putacharn Toh Bramarangsi
Born: April 17th, B.E. 2331 (A.D. 1788) Ayutthya
Expired: June 22, BE 2415 (A.D. 1872) Bangkok
Books: Krum and the Effects of Krum, Jinapanjara (Phra Kata Chinnabanchorn)
Parents: King Buddhalertlanapalai (Rama II) and Queen Somdej Phra Amrindra Boromrajinee
The Phra Somdej Amulets he made in the very begining were simple and rustic, as he used materials that were easily found in his humble surroundings at and around the temple. Items such as dried cooked rice powder, bananas, ash from prayer incense, petals and pollens from worship flowers, and other simple things mixed with sugar cane as a binding agent. The craftsmen from the villages soon volunteered to make finer amulet molds for him. During his early years Phra Somdej Toh would give these amulets with his blessings as gifts to the faithful parishioners who gave him food, as well as those who made merit and done good and helpful deeds around the temple.
Despite starting at a young age,
the period wherein most of the Phra Somdej Amulets were crafted is 1851 - 1864 A.D. (B.E. 2394 - 2407) at the beginning of the reign of King Rama IV, while Phra Somdej Toh was in his early 60’s to late 70’s and respected as a wise and venerable monk. During this time he received the titles of Phra Rajakhana, Phra Dharmakiti, Phra Thepkawee, and Somdej Buddhajarn from the King between 1852 - 1864 A.D. (B.E. 2395 - 2407) Within this period there were many occasions where Phra Somdej Amulets were made, such as prominent celebrations and the birth of King Rama V in 1853 (B.E. 2396). About a decade later, he oversaw the making of the large Buddha statue at Wat Keschaiyo (Wat Ket Chaiyo) in the Angthong Province. At that time he also conducted the making of 84,000 Phra Somdej (multi seat layer prints) which were given the name Phra Somdej Wat Keschaiyo for the name of the temple where they were made and blessed.
The making of Phra Somdej Amulets developed in this period as royal craftsmen were commissioned to help in the design and mold crafting such as Luang Vijarn Jearamai, Luang Sittikarn Borirak. It was also during this time that the sugar cane was replaced by “Tung oil” as the primary binding agent in most of the amulets.
The materials used in Somdej Toh Amulets
come in many varieties, while this dosen’t mean that each batch contains all materials, but rather each started with a main base of plaster with a mixture of materials from the following list. The availability of modern high definition lenses capable of 1000x magnification has lead to new discoveries about the contents of original amulets, and is useful aid in our certification process. Notice the Phra Somdej Amulet shown here, bits of gold and the sheen of calcification over the years, all invisible to the naked eye, show up clearly under magnification.
Phra Somdej Amulet Materials List
Holy Powders
Comprised primarily of Ittijay, Pattamong, and Tri-Nisingha Powders, ranging in color from orange, blue, light green, grey, yellow, & white.
Diamond Plaster
A white durable plaster from China that was used in their porcelain making for millennia.
Blessed Metals
Also referred to as Mythical Metals, primarily ferrous based with names such as Flowing Iron and Leglaid
Marble Powder
Powdered marble, found in Wat Sila Thi Khun varieties of Phra Somdej Amulets
Holy Grains
Made by powdering older amulets, worn away by time, into grains to be used in new amulets, primarily brown grains from Phra Sumkor Amulets. Other grains in this category include crushed Nampee Steel that was used in quality sword crafting, as well as bits of gold and silver flakes from other artifacts.
Soropong
A type of white earth used in amulets.
Oyster Shell Plaster
In different varieties made from both baked or raw shells.
7 Sites Earth
Earth and sand combined from Seven special or sacred sites depending on the temple where they were crafted and the blessings to be bestowed upon the Amulet. These sites included; The 7 City Piers, The 7 Forrests, The 7 Salt Plains, and The 7 Boat Wharfs.
Pong Luang Earth
A type of yellow earth used in amulets
Bael
A type of natural fruit gum.
Sun Dried Offerings
Sometimes the monks would have extra food left over from the offerings of the faithful. After eating or being given away to the poor, they would dry the rice in the sun and powder it to mix in the amulets.
Honey
And sometimes raw sugar cane syrup.
Glutenous Rice
Rice flour used to fill and aid in the binding process.
Tung Oil
A strong Thai Linseed Oil, to act as binding agent bringing together the various elements in the amulets.
Banana
Small sweet Thai Banana often given as offerings by parishioners.
Ash
Ash, carefully collected from the worship candles and incense left behind at the feet of the Buddha statues by parishioners after prayers.
Old Scripture
Older scriptures where usually carefully etched into palm leaves with a hot tipped needle burning the letters into the leaf. When these would become to old and worn to read properly, after years of recital and prayer, the monks would carefully powder and mix them into new amulets.
Sawart Flower
Known outside of Thailand as Nicarbean. (Latin: Guilandina bonduc)
Special Herbal Mixtures
There are two very specific blends of local herbs that were used in Phra Somdej Amulets. “Krajae” A fragrant perfume powder of the time. And “108 Powder” as the name implies it was a mixture of 108 different herbs and pollens uses explicitly for these holy amulets, the exact ingredients of which have sadly been lost to time.
Lotus
Flowers from the Sattabut Lotus.
Jasmine
Fragrant dried Jasmine flowers, often left behind as offerings in garland form to the monks.
Ratachapruek Flower
A lovely golden flower that blooms in long drapes from it’s branches. Known outside of Thailand as the “Pudding-Pipe Tree” (Latin: Cassia fistula)
Galong Flowers
Known outside of Thailand as the Snowy Orchid (Latin: Bauhinia acuminata)
Betel Leaves
There are many varieties however the two local types used in Phra Somdej Amulets are locally known as “Plu Ruamjai and Plu Songharng”.
The 15 Prints of Phra Somdej Amulets
Pim Phrapradhan Kestalusum
Primary Buddha print with head tip piercing through the glass dome top.
Pim Phrapradhan Kesjrodsum
Primary Buddha print with head tip touching the glass dome top.
Pim Chedi
The Pagoda Print.
Pim Tarn Sam
Primary Buddha print comes in two different sizes, and multiple seat base styles.
Pim Kesbuatume
Pre-bloom Lotus Tip print.
Pim Prokbhodhi
Buddha seated under the Bhodhi Tree with leaves on top in the background.
Pim Wat Keschaiyo
Wat Keschaiyo print with multi seat layer base. Crafted in homage of the time when Buddha was eating very little, almost starving himself. This was a spiritual practice in which he mortified his body by eating and drinking practically nothing. Eventually he became emaciated and collapsed. It was then that he realized that he still had not found the answer he was seeking, but that self harm was not the way. So he left asceticism behind and started a new practice wherein he meditated while also taking proper care of his body. It was this practice that finally led him to the supreme enlightenment that made him the Buddha.
Pim Sendaii
Known as the “Thread Print” for it’s thin dome wall.
Pim Tarn Ku
“Couples Base” so called for it’s unique seat pattern of alternating thick and thin bases.
Pim Sankati
“Shoulder Robe Print”, identified by it’s clear robe details from the right shoulder.
Pim Sianebatr
Monk “Bowl Head” print, called such for the large over-sized head found in these prints.
Pim Hucksork.
Known for it’s projecting elbows and it’s sharp angular features giving it an almost geometric appearance.
Pim Ok Krut
The “Garuda Chest” print, known for it’s large pronounced chest and overall strong features.
Pim Saiyas
The “Reclining Buddha” print, the only Somdej Amulet that dose not feature the Buddha in a seated pose.
Pim Kaiser
The “Kaiser” print amulet made to honor the occasion of King Chulalongkorn’s visit to Germany and meeting Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Emperor of Germany at the time.
Colors of Phra Somdej Amulets
Phra Somdej Amulets come in
many different prints and colors. While there are variations of each we can narrow the colors down to the following 14+ hues and shades;
White, Creamy Brown, Brownish Green, Black, Dark Grey, Condensed Milk White (Ivory), Earth (Brown), Reddish Cream, Grey, Dark Brown, Greenish Grey, Ochre, and the 5 special color mixes in the Benjarong series.