Phra Khun Krai (Phra Nang Khaen On) • Terracotta (Clay)
Year (BE): (estimated 400–500 years) • Wat Pak Khlong Chum Saeng Songkhram, Phitsanulok • Rediscovered from a jar cache during temple groundworks (late 2010)
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Overview of a terracotta Phra Khun Krai, commonly linked by collectors to the Khun Phaen family-line tradition (สายขุนแผน) and valued for metta (เมตตา) and protection-focused folklore.
What This Piece Represents (Collector Lens)
This piece sits in a very specific corner of Thai amulet culture: the “Khun Phaen lineage” family of terracotta votive figures that collectors discuss not only as objects of faith, but as artifacts tied to old temple ground caches. The listing highlights the “Phra Nang Khaen On” variant name, and presents the amulet as a long-aged clay piece—often appreciated for its worn surface, earthy firing tone, and the kind of “buried history” provenance that collectors watch for (กรุ / cache finds).
Amulet Information
Name: Phra Khun Krai (Phra Nang Khaen On) (พระขุนไกร / variant name used by collectors)
Material: Nur Din Terracotta / Clay (ดินเผา)
Year (BE): Estimated 400–500 years
Temple: Wat Pak Khlong Chum Saeng Songkhram, Bang Rakam District, Phitsanulok
Monk: Not specified in the listing.
Lineage Note: Traditionally discussed under the Khun Phaen lineage (U Thong-style family of terracotta figures). Khun Krai is often described in lore as Khun Phaen’s father.
SKU: TAC-PKK-WPKCSS-001
Price:
SGD 688
History & Lineage Context
The listing’s key historical point is the rediscovery story: in late 2010, temple groundworks to improve access during the rainy season led to a backhoe excavating soil near an old ordination hall area. Under a large fig tree, an earthen jar was uncovered and broke open, revealing many small terracotta amulets along with fragments of old pottery and bowls. Reporters and villagers gathered as monks carefully retrieved the items from the ground, treating the find as a meaningful “cache” discovery (กรุแตก).
Local belief details were also recorded around the event. Some villagers reported their phone cameras malfunctioning when they tried to take pictures, and the temple responded by offering incense and candles to ask forgiveness before continuing the retrieval. A monk of the temple shared that he had previously dreamt of a spirit indicating that jars of old Buddha images and artifacts were buried in the area, advising that the time was not yet right—then, not long after, the road excavation revealed the jar cache.
On the broader temple side, the listing states Wat Pak Khlong Chum Saeng traces back to the Sukhothai era, when the surrounding community functioned as a trading hub along waterways. The temple was abandoned for a long period, and development resumed in 2002 when Phra Boonchuey Kittiko was invited to help restore the site. Villagers had reportedly found Sangkhalok pottery in the area before—an important clue that the ground held older material layers long before the 2010 jar discovery.
About the Material
Terracotta and clay amulets (ดินเผา) are often appreciated in Thai collecting culture for how naturally they record time: firing tone, surface wear, and soil contact can leave a quiet “age signature” that differs from modern press-mold pieces. For cache finds, collectors typically pay close attention to texture, cracks, and the overall dryness of the clay body rather than sharpness alone.
- Clay body and firing tone can reflect older production methods; surfaces often show natural oxidation and soil contact traces.
- Small chips or hairline cracks are common for buried terracotta pieces; collectors usually assess whether the wear looks consistent and “old.”
- For jar-cache items, context matters: pottery fragments and mixed buried materials can support the “ground provenance” narrative when documented properly.
Design / Pim / Variant Notes
The listing names this as “Phra Khun Krai (Phra Nang Khaen On).” In Khun Phaen-lineage discussions, Khun Krai amulets are commonly grouped with related terracotta figures such as Khun Phaen, Phlai Ngam, Phra Phanwasa, and Kumarn Thong. Exact pim classification and iconographic specifics are not fully detailed in the listing, so collectors would typically rely on side-by-side comparison with known references from earlier cache finds.
Traditional Spiritual Attributes & Metaphysical Properties
In Thai amulet culture, Khun Krai pieces are frequently associated with “metta” (เมตตา, personal warmth and likeability) and “maha larp” (มหาลาภ, fortune/benefit), alongside protective folklore that collectors sometimes describe as “invincibility” or strong safeguarding. These are traditional attributions shared among devotees and should be understood as belief-based intentions—supported, in practice, by personal discipline, merit-making, and respectful conduct rather than guarantees.
- เมตตา (Metta): Traditionally linked to charm, goodwill, and smoother interpersonal outcomes.
- มหาลาภ (Maha Larp): Often worn with the intention of attracting opportunity, customers, and helpful support.
- คุ้มครอง / แคล้วคลาด (Protection / Avoidance of harm): A common devotional framing for Khun Phaen-lineage terracotta pieces.
Rarity Assessment & Collector Significance
The collector interest here is driven by the cache narrative: a sealed jar discovery connected to a specific temple site, uncovered during documented groundworks. Jar-cache finds are finite by nature, and condition varies widely—many pieces are chipped or aged from long burial. The listing does not specify formal certification or full chain-of-custody documentation, so a careful collector would typically evaluate (1) material aging consistency, (2) style match to known Khun Krai references, and (3) whether the provenance story can be supported with credible documentation beyond hearsay.
Conclusion
Phra Khun Krai from Wat Pak Khlong Chum Saeng Songkhram is best understood as a “history-forward” terracotta piece—valued for its cache rediscovery story, its place in Khun Phaen-lineage collecting, and the traditional devotion themes of metta and protection. For serious collectors, the right next step is always verification: compare with accepted references, confirm provenance where possible, and let the material and details speak.
Full Photo Reference Set
Front view — terracotta surface and age wear consistent with long-aged clay pieces.
Back view — details not specified in the listing beyond photo reference.
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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.