HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsBig Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
Thailand
Sitting golden Buddha 15-meter tall on the north coast of the island which is located on a small island called "Koh Faan". The Big Buddha statue is visible from kilometers away
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)1:22
Welcome, scholars of theology and architecture. We are standing at the threshold of Wat Phra Yai, globally recognized as the Big Buddha Temple of Koh Samui. …
Listen in the app2The Causeway and Threshold1:10
As we traverse the causeway linking Koh Samui to Koh Faan, we engage in a physical manifestation of a spiritual transition. In religious studies, this is known as a liminal space—a boundary crossing from the profane into the…
Listen in the app3The Naga Staircase and Serpentine Mythology1:10
We now stand at the base of the monumental primary staircase leading up the hill. Flanking the steps are magnificent, multi-headed reptilian forms known as Nagas. …
Listen in the app4The 12-Meter Golden Colossus1:16
Upon reaching the summit plateau, we are confronted by the visual anchor of the entire region: the 12-meter tall, golden statue of the Buddha. Constructed in 1972, this monument is a staggering achievement of local engineering…
Listen in the app5The Subduing of Mara (Mudra Analysis)1:13
Let us shift our analytical focus to the specific posture of the hands, known in Sanskrit as a 'mudra'. This specific Big Buddha is depicted in the 'Subduing Mara' posture, or the 'Earth-Touching' mudra (Bhumisparsha mudra). …
Listen in the app6The Acoustic Rituals: Bells and Offerings1:13
As you circulate the primary platform, your auditory senses will be activated by the continuous, resonant chiming of bronze bells. Surrounding the base of the Buddha, there is a gallery of suspended bells. …
Listen in the app7The Panoramic Vantage Point1:10
Finally, let us direct our gaze outward, away from the colossal statue, to appreciate the geographic supremacy of this location. The selection of Koh Faan for this temple was not arbitrary; it provides a 360-degree panoramic…
Listen in the app8Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)1:03
As we conclude our structural and theological analysis of Wat Phra Yai, we must acknowledge the complex duality of this site. It exists simultaneously as a profoundly sacred space for local Theravada practitioners and as one of…
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What is Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)?
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) is a place in Thailand with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 9 min 37 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 9.5708, 100.0600 |
| Last updated |
