The Emerald Buddha is a highly revered, 26 inch tall, green jade statue that was mistakenly thought to be an emerald when it was discovered in 1434. It was captured from Laos by King Rama I in 1778 and placed on an altar of this ordination hall or chapel which was built in 1783. It is called the Royal Monastery of Emerald Buddha. Only the king can approach the statue three times a year during the seasonal changing of the image’s costume.
