Humility

A Thai monk, in his saffron robes, between sermons in an old Thai wooden house.

The special dress of ordained people, the robes, comes from the idea of wearing cheap clothes simply as protection against the elements, and of course for modesty, not made from one piece of cloth, but sewn from several pieces. Since dark red was the cheapest colour in Kashmir, the Tibetan tradition has red robes, elsewhere in Asia the colours of the robes vary from yellow to saffron which had had cultural associations in India, and particularly in east Asia to grey or black.

Dynasty of Kings

On display at the Thailand Human Imagery Museum, King's Rama I through VIII of the Chakri Dynasty (also known as the House of Chakri) (Thai: ราชวงศ์จักรี: Rajawongse Chakri), the current ruling royal house of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The dynasty has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Ratthanakosin era and the city of Bangkok in 1782. The Kings are:

Phrabat Somdet Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke - (centre, at back)
the Great
(Rama I)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai - (3rd from left)
(Rama II)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (4th from right)
Jessadabodindra
Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua
(Rama III)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (2nd from right)
Mongkut
Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua
(Rama IV)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (Far left)
Chulalongkorn
the Great
Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua
(Rama V)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (2nd from left)
Vajiravudh
Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua
(Rama VI)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (3rd from right)
Prajadhipok
Phra Pok Klao Chao Yu Hua
(Rama VII)

Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha - (Far right)
Ananda Mahidol
Phra Atthama Ramathibodindhorn
(Rama VIII)

Not shown in this tableau of the Kings is His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Great, Phrabat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha, Rama IX, who at 82 years of age, has reigned since 9 June 1946 and is the world's longest-serving current head of state as well as the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.