Kamphaeng Kaeo

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The Kamphaeng Kaeo ( Thai กำแพงแก้ว , "wall of jewels ") is a special wall in a wat , a Buddhist temple complex in Thailand .

Tiled Kamphaeng Kaeo at Wat Rajbopit, Bangkok

Similar to the Phra Rabieng , the Kamphaeng Kaeo has the purpose of shielding the sacred buildings from the “outside” world. However, it often does not serve this purpose perfectly because you can look over it. Sometimes it is "just" a grid like in Wat Arun or Wat Benchamabophit ("Temple of the Five Kings", better known as "Marble Temple"), both in Bangkok . In some temples, in addition to the outer wall, there is an "inner" Kamphaeng Kaeo: most of the time, a special building is surrounded by a lower wall, e.g. B. in Wat Phra Kaeo , the "Temple of the Emerald Buddha " in Bangkok. Here the sacred chapel of the "Emerald Buddha" is framed by a tiled Kamphaeng Kaeo.

The length of the sides is always in an even ratio to each other, 1: 1, 1: 2, 1: 3 or 2: 3 as in Wat Saket in Bangkok. The Kamphaeng Kaeo is always a wall with a distinctive profile. The corners are always bordered by special columns that are also richly profiled. The rounded corners of the Kamphaeng Kaeo of Wat Suthat by the large swing have only recently been built to allow more space for road traffic.