Wat Mangkon Kamalawat - Wat Leng Nee Yee Bangkok Thailand
Also called Wat Leng Noi Yi and wat mangkon kamalawat, this “Dragon Flower Temple”is the most spectacular temple in Chinatown. It was founded in 1871 and has since become one of the most venerated sites for the Chinese of Thailand.
Above the imposing gateway is a ninestory tower which serves as a Museum of Religious
Artifacts, not yet open to the public. Inside the spacious courtyard stands an ld vegetarian hall and a traditional medicine shop where cures are prescribed by the Chinese god of medicine.
The central complex is divided into several vi ams. The dominating hall features three gild ed Buddhas draped with saffron obes and flanked by gilded statues of the 18 arahats. Also located in the entral chamber is a fat Maitreya Buddha (the final Buddha before the estruction of the world), six Dharmapala figures found in every large Chinese emple, and the Four Heavenly Kings, Hindu deities converted to Buddhism. To the ight is another hall with im ages of Taoist Star Deities who heal all illness s; to the left are statues of Taoist patriarchs and the founderabbot of the emple. The ex treme left has a small but beautiful garden and vegetarian hall illed with elaborately carved furniture. Services are held daily at 1600.
