The King Naresuan The Great Monument
The monument is situated in front of the entrance gate of Wat Phukhao Thong to honour King Naresuan the Great. The massive marble and metallic structure is crowned with an armed image of King Naresuan the Great on horseback. This is in reflection of a well-known battle in which he killed a Burmese general with a strike from his lance.
The King Naresuan the Great Monument in Ayutthaya was constructed during 1995-1999 to serve as a remembrance of the King, the value of independence, national sacrifice, and Thai identity. In addition, the construction was established in honour of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne. With a total area of 1,075 rai, the park and pond served as the recreational area and water storage for agriculture and flood prevention in accordance with the King’s royal initiatives.
A large number of three-dimensional metallic friezes are displayed around the base of the monument. Each of these stories signifies a popular story relating to the life of King Naresuan the Great; such as, the scene that Prince Naresuan’s rooster naturally won the cockfight with a young Burmese prince, the declaration scene of Ayutthaya’s independence from Burma, the heroic scene of the military king holding his sword in his mouth while leading the soldiers to climb into the Burmese camp, which became known as Pra Saeng Dap Khap Khai Sword. Another well-known scene displayed on the monument is the victory scene of the king killing the Burmese general, the same image as the monument.
On each corner of the monument is displayed replicas of the famous arms that the king used to defeat his foes; the four armors which are Royal Shot across the Sittoung River – the gun that he used to shot the Burmese general Surakamma from across the Sittoung River, Pra Saeng Dap Khap Khai – the sword that he held in his mouth while leading the troops to climb into the Burmese camp, Phra Mala Biang – the helmet that the king was wearing while fighting with the Burmese soldiers, Phra Saeng Kho Ngao – the war scythe that he was using in Yuddhahatthi the elephant battle with the Burmese Prince Minchit Sra.
The most popular symbol of King Naresuan the Great is the replicas of the Lueang Hang Khao fighting cock as offerings to the king. This shows a reminder of a cockfight between the young Prince Naresuan and the Burmese Crown Prince. Thai people highly respect the king and his heroic victory by bringing in more rooster statues to pay respect and to ask for his blessing.
The King Naresuan The Great Monument
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In front of Wat Phukhao Thong, Tambon Phukhoa Thong
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