Helping the Human Race



Red Cross 2011 Commemorative Stamp
Date of Issue    :  30 March 2011
Purpose            :  To commemorate the Thai Red Cross Fair 2011

Helping the Human Race
The Thai Red Cross Society is a non-profit organization, established to promote humanitarian causes.  It provides assistance to the sick, the deprived and the victims of mishaps, without discrimination on the grounds of sex, aga, social position, caste, nationality, religion or politacal ideology.  The present Executive vice-President of the Thai Red Cross Society is Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

During her term of office, the Princess has closely supervised and helped to develop the Red Cross activities, enabling it to consistently progress and contributing to its success by boosting the morale of officials and employees at all levels.

credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletin 1

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Ayuttaya

Ayutthaya is a distinguishingly historical place that still keeps its mesmerising charm until today.  This province once was a capital city for the longest period in the Thai history. Thus, it is rich of historical sites and historical artifacts, making it the world's notable cultural heritage.   

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon constructed in King U-Theng's era.  housing a pagoda built by King Naresuan the Great to commemorate his victory over a Burmese King.

The satellite stupas of varied structural form sand conternporay with the main stupa, are lined up out side the gallery.

The Reclining Buddha image and its vihara were probably built in the reign of King Narasuan.  It was particularly used to worship and meditation.  The present image was restored in A.D. 1965.

King Narasuan The Great Palace

King Narasuan

Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya Province

Phra Mongkhon Bophit

History of Phra Mongkhon Bophit   

Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand.  The image measures 9.55 metres at the widest point across the lap, and 12.45 metres high without the base.  This Buddha image is seated in the position of subduing mara and situated on the west side of the old palace compound in the Vihara of Phra Mongkhon Bophit temple.  The image is believed to have been condstructed in the early Ayutthaya period between 1448 to 1602 A.D. and was originally situated at the east side of the old palace compound.  Later, during the reign of King Song Tham it was moved to the west side and a Mondop was built to shelter it.  During the reign of King Phra Chao Sua (1706 A.D.) the top part of the Mondop and the head of the image were damaged by lightning.  The Mondop was converted into a Vihara and the main restoration of Phra Mongkhon Bophit was completed during the reign of King BoromaKote (1742-1743 A.D.).

During the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, the roof of the Vihara was damaged by fire and the head and the right arm of the image were broken.  Later the image was repaired and the Vihara was completed again in 1956.

On 23 March 1990, The Supreme Patriarch presided over a candle lighting ceremony in front of the image and amounced that people could honour the image by convering it with gold leaf H.M.Queen Sirikit auspiciously paid homage to the image a donated Baht 70,000 to the restoration fund.  Henceforward the Mongkhon Bophit Foundation undertook to cover the image with gold leaf in celebration of the 60th birthday of H.M. Queen Sirikit.

credit :  signed board Courtesy of Shangri-la hotel

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon

Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajworamahavihan  

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I.

It leatures the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.    

Phra Buddhasaiyas

Viharn Phranorn

Wat Pho is the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage.

The Eight Chinese Deities

Li Tie Guai, the Deity of Medicine and Medical Treatment, is a young, intelligent and robust man.  He is  a vegetarian, follows religious precepts and leads and austere life.

Han Zhong Li, the Deity of Fortune, is plump and of huge stature, with a broad forehead, long, thick eyebrows and a large nose.





Lu Dong Bin is the Deity of Industry, Trad and Business, Intellectual People and eyebrows and elongated eyes like those of the swan.  His left eyebrow is marked with a black mould.  His fae features a large, round nose, chubby cheeks, a wide mouth and a long, slender neck.  this eight foot two inch Deity is clever and has a very good memory.

Zhang Guo Lao is the Deity of Stability, Long Life and Good Health.  The Zhang Guo Lao legend has it that a white bat lived on the sunlight and the moonlight for over a thousand years until it was made into the deity.  He can transform himself into an aged man and he has a white donkey as his vehicle.

Lan Cai He is the Deity of Flowers and Abundance.  According to legend, this Deity was given a mirculous fruit that enabled him to maintain his youthful looks and complexion forever.  There is nothing to show whether this Deity is male or female, but in Taoism, he is taken to be a male.

He xian Gu is the Deity of Virtues, Loyalty and Gratitude.  He is knowledgeable, articulate and his words are endowed with reason.   He is graceful and tender in his manner.  He loves to help the deprived with his magical  powers and he is able to give solid predictions.

Han Xiang Zi is the Deity of Fortune Telling.  He is regarded as a prophet and a music lovers.  Having a special interest in people who had megical power he took lessons in magic and pracised penance wiht Lu Dong Bin.

Cao Guo Jiu is theDeity of Status and Prestige, Royal Duties, Employees and Loyatty.  He was a member of the royal family and was blessed with a great fortune, yet he decided to sacrifice his luxurious and easy life for meditation.

The Eight Chinese Deities Stamp

Date of Issue :  February 1, 2011



Credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletion Vol 2011 issue 1