The Wat Pho-em Code

The 1,431 inscriptions of Wat Pho (which remain at present) have been registered as “The Memory of the World” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

The Wat P(h)o-em Code: Decoding of Poetical World’s Heritage to the Metaverse Project  has been funded by Thai Media Fund (TMF) to publicly provide an online document on how to decode the puzzling word-playing verse of Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon) Temple, Bangkok, Thailand, through animation and virtual metaverse exhibition for the sake of hidden Thai local wisdom and cultural heritage appreciation.

Composed by King Rama III, royal members, and noblemen, 38 Wat Pho’s word-playing verses in 8 pieces of inscription exist on the north, east and south posts of the external gallery; some are verse puzzles. Since the reparation of the 2nd door in the east where 11 verses are engraved and the interpretative disagreement of 2 verses, only 25 ones are selectively presented.