Wat Pho is included in UNESCO programme

Wat Pra Chetupon Wimolmangalaram, more commonly known by Thais as Wat Pho and home of the Reclining Buddha, has been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World (MOW) Programme for 2009. The temple was recognised for the historic inscriptions and hermit statues teaching traditional Thai yoga housed inside it.

Commissioned by King Rama I, Wat Pho is the oldest Buddhist temple in Bangkok and also known as Thailand’s first university. The documents to be submitted to the MOW register represent an important record of Thai traditional knowledge on subjects ranging from poetry to health and herbal medicine. Written on sheets of gold, silver, and marble, the inscriptions include lessons in geography, traditional massage, and Buddhist teachings.

There are also statues (24 remain of the original 80) which illustrate different yoga-like postures (“hermit poses”) which are said to help reduce muscle and joint stiffness and pain. These centuries-old hermit poses and traditional massage instructions, when applied appropriately, remain as effective treatments for people today.A place for the inscriptions and statues at Wat Pho on the MOW register would contribute to their preservation and protection.

The MOW submission effort, which is supported by the Thai Culture and Education Ministers, would protect the traditional knowledge found at Wat Pho from similar patent conflicts as well as ensure its preservation and dissemination in other forms.Wat Pho, which also houses a traditional medical and massage school, attracts three million visitors a year. In addition to being an important location for students, Wat Pho is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

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