This article is reproduced from: Xinhua News Agency
China’s “ballast stone statue” unearthed at the Jade Buddha Temple in Bangkok witnesses the history of friendly exchanges between China and Thailand
Chen Jiabao
In the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the northeast corner of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, several simple white marble statues have attracted the attention of many tourists, and people have taken photos with these statues from China.
Thailand officials recently issued an announcement saying that in July last year, during the renovation of the road in front of the Grand Palace, a number of stone statues, including human and beast statues, were unearthed. Some of the stone statues were engraved in Chinese. The cultural relics agency compared historical materials and determined that these stone statues were temple decorations during the time of King Rama V.
Today, these restored statues are displayed in the same location as they were a hundred years ago.
“Made in Maoyuan, Dongyue.” Noy, an old man from Guangzhou, China, said aloud while stroking the Chinese engraving of Junxiu on a female statue. She said: “I guess this is the origin of the stone statues, and these stone statues should be ballast stones that came along with the cargo ship.” Ah Nuo, a professor at the National Institute of Development and Management in Thailand, said that these stone statues should be ballast stones purchased by Siamese (ancient Thai name) merchants from China to balance the weight of the return ship and ensure the stability of the ship.
It is said that King Rama III of Thailand loved Chinese art and purchased many Chinese stone carvings to decorate Buddhist temples. Since then, stone statues of people or animals have gradually become the first choice for merchant ships as ballast stones.
Walking along the Chao Phraya River, in well-known attractions such as the Grand Palace and Temple of Dawn, Chinese stone statues can be seen everywhere. These “ballast stones”, which have already completed their historical mission, stand safely under palace walls and in temples, showing people the history of friendly exchanges between China and Thailand.