Wat Ling Khob

Phra Kleep Bua – Wat Ling Khob (Wat Bowon Mongkhon)

Wat Ling Khob, later renamed Wat Bowon Mongkhon, is a riverside temple in Bangkok with deep roots in the early Rattanakosin period. Originally built by a wealthy layman named Khob, it was known as Wat Ling Khob before the name gradually evolved. In the reign of King Rama II (1809–1824), Prince Bowon Maha Senanurak elevated the temple into a royal monastery to serve the Mon community that had migrated into Siam. It was granted the title Wat Bowon Mongkhon, yet locals have continued to call it Wat Ling Khob until today.

Creation and Enshrinement

In 1867 (B.E. 2410), during the tenure of Phra Sumethacharn (Sri), then Phra Khru Rachparit and acting abbot of Wat Ling Khob, the temple underwent a large-scale renovation. A new stupa was constructed, and within it, hundreds of small clay amulets were created and enshrined alongside Buddha images and other sacred relics. These became known as Phra Kleep Bua, named for their lotus petal shape. The Buddha is depicted seated in meditation posture, framed by a Bodhi tree motif with sharp facial features and detailed lines.

The consecration was not a simple ceremony but part of an ongoing cycle of rituals that spanned decades. From the time of Rama II through the mid-19th century, countless ceremonies for the stupa were conducted with the participation of many great monks of the era. Among them was Somdej Phra Buddhachan Toh (Arjan Toh of Wat Rakhang), whose temple stood directly across the river. His presence, together with other senior masters, endowed the amulets with extraordinary weight and ensured they became more than mere commemorative objects—they were charged vessels of spiritual force.

Rediscovery of the Hoard

By 1966 (B.E. 2509), the old riverside stupa had weakened. Parts of the base crumbled, and villagers noticed small clay amulets spilling from the broken plaster and drifting with the water. Crowds gathered, and soon Phra Yanavethee, the assistant abbot, oversaw an official excavation. Inside were dragon-pattern jars filled with Phra Kleep Bua, wrapped in decayed ritual cloths. The best-preserved examples were retrieved from higher tiers, while those submerged at the water line were thickly encrusted from decades of flooding.

Variants emerged: plain fired clay, lacquered with red chard or deep rak, and even pieces showing black “fire-passed” marks caused by uneven kiln temperatures. Collectors immediately recognized these rarer types as special “score amulets.”

Enduring Reputation

The power of Phra Kleep Bua was felt long after the official release. By the 1980s and 1990s, word of their efficacy spread beyond Bangkok. Collectors from Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong sought them eagerly, driving demand across the region. Yet in those days, when communication was poor and knowledge was limited, counterfeit pieces flooded the market, and many were unknowingly exported. For this reason, today only the older generation of serious collectors truly appreciates the authenticity, history, and proven blessings of these amulets.

Legacy and Significance

Phra Kleep Bua of Wat Ling Khob are not simply clay images. They are part of a sacred deposit from a royal monastery, created and blessed in an age when the greatest monks of Rattanakosin lent their spiritual mastery to ensure their lasting potency. They embody the temple’s role as a bridge between the Mon community, the Front Palace, and the capital’s religious life along the Chao Phraya River.

Collectors regard them as timeless examples of stupa amulets—objects that carry both historical weight and spiritual merit. Their reputation has endured for more than 150 years, and their blessings continued to be attested even fifty years after the stupa was opened.

If you are reading this today, it is likely no coincidence. Fate may well be pointing you toward owning a piece of this historical and spiritually valuable legacy—a Phra Kleep Bua, a true witness to the faith, artistry, and blessings of old Bangkok.