Diverse Tourism – White Jade Tai Hong Temple: A Center of Faith in the Heart of Bangkok

This marks a historic convergence of faith around 'Luang Pu Tai Hong' as the Po Tek Tung Foundation has built a Buddhist temple enshrining one of Thailand's largest white jade Tai Hong statues, located in central Sathorn, Bangkok, on 4 rai 17 square wah of sacred land spanning over 120 years.

The 'White Jade Tai Hong Temple Celebrating the 72nd Royal Cycle' stands as a heritage of Buddhist compassion and a valuable resource for studying ancient Chinese miniature architecture. The project was undertaken to commemorate both the royal celebration of the 6th cycle of birth on July 28, 2567 BE and the foundation's 110th anniversary. The foundation received royal grace from His Majesty, who bestowed the building's name and presided over its opening ceremony with Her Majesty the Queen, ceremonially planting a twin parasol pine tree on May 20, 2569 BE.

Nai Wichit Chinwongwrkul, vice chairman of the Po Tek Tung Foundation's board, explained the foundation's purpose: it serves as a bridge of merit for those with faith to channel charitable assistance through social welfare programs, carrying forward Luang Pu Tai Hong's legacy of helping society without discrimination based on class or religion, guided by the principle of 'Save life, preserve life, create life.'

The foundation has constructed the temple adjacent to the '80th Royal Cycle Memorial Park of the Po Tek Tung Foundation,' a historic land dedicated to faith and gratitude to Thailand, originating from 'Sosan Wat Don,' where 710 Chinese citizens pooled resources in 1899 BE to purchase land for a public cemetery. This marked the beginning of the Tai Hong corpse management association and the Tai Hong Phlapphlaichai temple, which were later registered as the Po Tek Tung Foundation (originally named the Hui Kiao Po Tek Siang Tung Foundation).

'This White Jade Tai Hong Temple will serve as a center of faith gathering for believers from both Thailand and abroad, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, accommodating tens of thousands of visitors. The temple offers incense, joss paper, and Luang Pu Tai Hong amulets—sacred talismans—to the faithful who come to pay respects and make requests, all provided free of charge. Those wishing to make merit can do so according to their faith and ability,' Nai Wichit stated.

Dr. Setsapong Jongsongwan, an independent scholar of Chinese studies and expert in Mahayana Buddhism who served as advisor for the temple's construction, described the design as ancient Chinese architectural art in the Zhaozhuang craftsmen style. The entire structure is reinforced concrete, adorned with carved wood and stone.

The temple's focal point is its main 2-story hall, which houses the enshrined statue of Luang Pu Tai Hong carved from one of Thailand's largest white jade stones. The statue rests on a central altar constructed from three carved jade pieces with a combined height of 5.1 meters and total weight of 51.50 tons, displaying remarkable beauty and profound spiritual significance representative of Luang Pu Tai Hong.

Luang Pu Tai Hong was a Chinese Buddhist monk from the Song Dynasty era who traveled to Tieya District in Zhaozhuang, Guangdong Province, during a time when people faced repeated calamities including storms, floods, fires, epidemics, and droughts. He devoted himself tirelessly to helping people, collecting and performing funeral rites without hesitation, establishing clinics to care for the sick, and providing food and necessities to the poor while encouraging villagers to participate.