Wat Pho, also spelled Wat Po, is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Phra Chetuphon) – is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Bangkok – and probably the oldest. It is situated in the Rattanakosin area – next to the Grand Palace. As well as being an important Buddhist temple, it is also significant in relation to traditional Thai medicine – and Thai Massage in particular. The statues within the grounds mainly depict positions for yoga – an important aspect of Thai medicine and culture. The existing Wat Pho temple is itself constructed on the site of an older temple Wat Phodharam. The construction of Wat Pho started around 1788. The older site was a center for traditional Thai medicine, and Wat Pho has carried that significance forward to the present day. In present times, the temple houses a school for traditional medicine, and of course, Thai Massage.
Wat Phra Chetuphon, or “Wat Po”, is well known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, as well as being Thailand’s first “open” University. After present Chakri Dynasty in 1782, HM the King had a royal instruction to restore Wat Po to be the first grade of royal monastery. From the great restoration during King Rama I and King Rama III, Wat Po came to be the center of Thai Arts and Knowledge where the wisdom of Thai Traditional Medicine and Massage were gathered from the ancestors and is still passed on today, e.g. instruction of herbal drug recipes, diagnosis and treatment for general ailments, baby illnesses and healing methods, massage inscriptions and drawings, Ascetic statues etc.
Being the base of Thai Medicine, Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School was opened in 1955 inside Wat Po. It is the first Thai Medical School under the approval of Thai Ministry of Education. The school presently offers 4 basic courses of Thai Medicine that are Thai Pharmacy, Thai medical practice, Thai Midwife Nurse and Thai Massage.
Wat Po TTM is acknowledged worldwide and the school’s original Thai Traditional Massage treatment and training course that is sometimes referred to as Wat Po massage. A large number of Thai and foreign students that graduate from the school participate in Thai Massage as well as enter into the spa business all over the world. (Source: http://www.watpomassage.com)
Wat Pho Thai Temple
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