Phra Kring Upakut (乌帕库特佛) • Nur Thong Daeng
BE2484-2485 • Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea), Kanchanaburi • Classic Phra Kring Upakut lineage • Competition-awarded piece (1st placing)
水财佛(乌帕库特佛) • BE2484-2485 • Luang Pu Dee (หลวงปู่ดี) • Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea) • Nur Thong Daeng (เนื้อทองแดง) • Competition 1st placing
What This Piece Represents (Collector Lens)
In Thai Buddhist collecting, a Phra Kring bearing the Upakut (อุปคุต) identity sits in a very particular space: it is both a “Buddha-image amulet” and a devotional symbol tied to protection, stability, and the idea of safeguarding merit. This BE2484-2485 example, attributed to Luang Pu Dee (LP Dee) of Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea), is prized not only for the classic period feel and metal character, but also for the collector-facing proof-point: it was presented and recognised as a competition-awarded piece (1st placing), which typically indicates strong confidence in type recognition and overall presentation.
Amulet Information
Name: Phra Kring Upakut (乌帕库特佛 / พระกริ่งอุปคุต)
Material: Nur Thong Daeng (Copper Alloy / เนื้อทองแดง)
Year (BE): 2484-2485
Temple: Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea), Kanchanaburi (วัดสังขาราม / วัดเหนือ)
Monk: Luang Pu Dee Phutthachoti (LP Dee) — Phra Thepmongkhonrangsi (as recorded in local honorific usage)
Lineage Note: Phra Kring Upakut devotional lineage • Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea) period piece • Competition winner (1st placing) noted in the listing
Price:
SGD 258
History & Lineage Context
The name “Upakut” (อุปคุต) refers to an enlightened monk figure revered across Theravāda communities, often associated (in popular devotional framing) with guarding the Dhamma, stabilising misfortune, and protecting auspicious proceedings. In Thai amulet culture, Upakut imagery is frequently linked to protective and prosperity-oriented devotion, especially in contexts where merit-making, temple restoration, or community support are emphasised.
Luang Pu Dee Phutthachoti (LP Dee), abbot of Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea) in Kanchanaburi, is remembered by devotees as a disciplined monk with strong meditative grounding and practical compassion. Pieces attributed to him are often collected for their “temple-rooted” character — the sense that the object is tied to a living community of practice, not merely decorative production.
This BE2484-2485 timeframe situates the piece within a mid-20th-century Thai Buddhist landscape where temples commonly issued sacred objects to support restoration, public works, and charitable activity. The listing narrative also frames this piece as a competition-awarded example (1st placing), which, for collectors, usually signals that the piece presents convincingly in form, metal tone, and overall identity.
Material Notes: Nur Thong Daeng (Copper Alloy)
“Nur Thong Daeng” (เนื้อทองแดง) is a copper-alloy base that collectors often value for the way it holds age, surface tone, and contact patina over decades. In Phra Kring tradition, the metal is also part of the “feel” of the piece — weight, ring, and the way details catch light — which becomes a practical layer of identification for seasoned hands.
- Collectible character: copper alloy tends to show natural warmth, depth, and tonal variation with time.
- Craft identity: details can remain crisp while still carrying period surface “life” (micro-wear and patina cues).
- Devotional practicality: robust enough for long-term keeping, casing, and respectful daily carry.
Design Notes: Phra Kring Upakut Iconography
Phra Kring forms are traditionally compact and dense, with the figure seated in meditation. In Upakut-type devotion, the seated posture is read as unwavering composure — a symbolic “stillness that protects.” Collectors typically study silhouette, facial structure, robe lines, and base proportions as the first-level checks before moving to metal and surface reading.
Traditional Spiritual Attributes & Metaphysical Properties
In traditional Thai belief-language (presented here respectfully, without guarantees), Upakut devotion is commonly associated with “guarding auspicious conditions” — helping the owner maintain stability, avoid disruptive obstacles, and cultivate steady fortune through merit, discipline, and right action. Many devotees treat the piece as a reminder-object: carry it to steady the mind, then let conduct and intention do the real work.
- Protection framing (Klaew Klaad / แคล้วคลาด): kept as a stabiliser against avoidable mishaps and “bad timing.”
- Prosperity framing (โชคลาภ / fortune): associated with smoother opportunities when paired with merit-making and consistency.
- Metta framing (เมตตา): a calm presence that supports better interactions, negotiations, and daily harmony.
Rarity Assessment & Collector Significance
Collector significance here comes from three converging cues: (1) the BE2484-2485 dating that places it into an older, “period-feel” category; (2) the temple-and-abbot attribution to Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea) under Luang Pu Dee; and (3) the listing’s note that this specific piece was recognised as a competition-awarded example (1st placing). As always, serious collectors should cross-check type markers, metal character, and any accompanying documentation, since competition outcomes can vary by event and judging panel.
Conclusion
This Phra Kring Upakut in Nur Thong Daeng, dated BE2484-2485 and attributed to Luang Pu Dee of Wat Sangkaram (Wat Nuea), presents as a collector-forward devotional piece: classic form, strong temple identity, and an added confidence marker via the 1st-place competition note. For devotees, it is best held as a reminder of steadiness and merit; for collectors, it is a meaningful reference point within the Upakut–Phra Kring landscape.
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Disclaimer: This article is for education and collector appreciation. Lineage/consecration notes are based on the details provided in the listing. Collectors should perform independent verification and consult qualified experts when needed.