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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

occasion, the King asked his Chancellor of the Treasury, named Disa Bunnag to build a temple.

In response, the Chancellor donated his garden by the Chao Praya River for the project,
which later became known as Wat Prayurawongsawat (Wat Prayun) corresponding to the

Chancellor’s title as a regent for the future king (King Rama IV). Later, His Majesty King Rama III
asked the Chancellor’s brother, named That, to build a temple, which became known as

Wat Pichai Yat, named after the Chancellor’s brother who also served as a regent for
King Rama IV. Moreover, His Majesty King Rama III requested the wife of the Chancellor’s

brother to build another temple. And Wat Anongkharam (temple of lady) was built alongside
Wat Pichai Yat. Later on, His Majesty King Rama III asked his Chancellor of Treasury (Disa Bunnag)

again to build another temple in honor of the Chancellor’s deceased mother, whose name was
Nuan. This led to the creation of Wat Nuannoradit in her memory. All these stories are authentic

and showcase King Rama III’s significant contributions to temple development, which included
the restoration of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho during his reign. His efforts were so notable

that U.S. President Barack Obama visited the temple during his official trip to Thailand in 2012.
That is the reason why His Holiness Somdet Phra Maha Samana Chao Kromma Phraya Pavares

Variyalongkorn recorded that King Rama III would favor anyone excelled in temple construction
or trade, reflecting the development of both moral values (in term of building temples) and

the economy during his reign.
His Majesty King Rama IV faced no war during his reign, allowing him to focus of other

pursuits. While he did not build many new temples, as there were already plenty, his role was
significant in preserving and nurturing existing temples and supporting Buddhism. Additionally,

he was a self-taught scientist with a passion for knowledge, benefiting from exchanges with
his western friends. A skilled astronomer, he made precise calculation and even predicted the

timing of a total solar eclipse at Waghor, Prachuap Kiri Khan on August 18, 1868. Recognizing the
importance of westernizing the nation, the king invited qualified foreign experts to educate his

children and royal family members. In doing so, he demonstrated to westerners that his people
were capable of learning and transforming the country into a modernized society.

His Majesty King Rama V dedicated 42 years of his reign to advancing the nation across
various fields, including modern education, the legal and justice system, military, infrastructures

such as train and tracks, roads, bridges, canals and drainage system, as well as healthcare,
with the establishment of hospitals and medical school. Many of the modern developments

we see today were initiated by His Majesty King Rama V. This period marked the most
significant transformation in the nation’s history and the king’s success can be attributed to

four key factors (four Thai words ending with the vowel “-a” or the Four “V’s” in English),

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