Wiki Phra Somdej International
维基顺德瓦拉康寺佛牌 by Lek Watruak

Inward rolling on the curve of the bell line confirms the Somdej Wat Rakang's high age.
























Somdej Toh (B.E.2331-2415), the creator and blesser


2405-2411年順德瓦拉康寺 富字背面
VHTF & INVALUABLE
Somdej Wat Rakang
Phim Yai, Fu Back
Nua PoonPetch
B.E.2405-2411



Dimensions: 2.5 X 3.5 cm
Material(s): ground burned seashells + kaolin + Somdej Toh's holy materials
Item Ref: pp34258

This is a PAS Somdej Wat Rakang (SWR), Phim Yai, Fu Back, Nua PoonPetch, created by Chinese Buddhists and blessed by Somdej Toh between B.E. 2405-2411.

● Phim yai = big mold

● Fu 富 = rich, wealthy, abundant, and a surname

● Nua PoonPetch = a mixture of burned & ground seashells mixed with kaolin clay

Nua PoonPetch has very fine grain and WHITE COLOR like milk.

Nua PoonPetch has its specific physical characteristics. It's rather hardly to make fake for this kind of content/texture.

The character 'Fu' has two definitions. One is a Chinese surname, historically common in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Two, it's a blessing word meaning rich, wealthy, abundant, which is everyone's desire.

Therefore, a SWR with the 富 character on the back can be worn by anyone, whether they have the surname 富 or not.

Because SWR with the character 'Fu' on the back is very rare and seldom seen, those who possess it cherish it greatly. Therefore, anyone who has the Somdej of this kind in their possession is considered to have great luck and fortune.

This SWR with character 'Fu' on the back contains sacred materials that Somdej Toh blessed and finely ground, which can be seen with a microscope, as shown in the images on this page.

SOMDEJ TOH'S HOLY MATERIALS:

Enlarged pics of the surface from microscope, we will see Somdej Toh's holy materials:

- a green fragment of jade
- tiny fagments of blue earth
- red-brown fragments of Kampaengpetch amulets
- fragments of black, metalic magnetic ore
- transparant grey stones

These are authentic features of the PAS Somdej Wat Rakang, Fu back.

INWARD ROLLING PHENOMENON:

Furthermore, the top curve of the bell line exhibits an 'inward rolling' phenomenon, which confirms the antiquity of this Somdej Wat Rakang amulet.

The inward rolling on the curve of the bell line is very important and the first step for identifying genuine SWRs.

It's the fastest way, amulet seekers will use a 10x loupe (ten times magnification) to examine the "inward rolling" on the bell line, as it's the first important key characteristic that confirms the age and authenticity of that SWR.

The "inward rolling" on the bell line results from the shrinkage of the amulet's content/texture due to its advanced age. Any Somdej amulets created in later periods, with less age, will not exhibit this "inward rolling" phenomenon on the bell line.

However, this does not mean that all old and authentic SWRs must always have an 'inward rolling' on the bell line. It's just that if it exists, it confirms that the SWR is old and authentic.

HISTORY & EVOLUTION OF "FU" CHARACTER:

Fu is a Chinese surname and as a general word it's also means rich, wealthy, abundant. The origin of the character Fu dates back around 1100-1400 years before the Christian era.

It initially depicted a house with containers of abundant food/wine inside. The character Fu then underwent continuous evolution until around 25 AD, when it reached its fully developed form and has been used ever since, spanning approximately two thousand years.





Click the below link to view FU character evolution:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sag9_yqNSGM

SWRs WITH CHINESE-CHARACTER BACK:

During the reign of King Rama IV, trade between China and Thailand prospered. Simultaneously, there was a significant influx of Chinese immigrants into Thailand. Both the Chinese and Thai people held great respect and reverence for Somdej Toh.

Somdej Toh had many Chinese disciples who played a crucial role in the thriving trade relationship between China and Thailand.

One of the most prominent Chinese disciples known as Luang WijahnJiaranai, whose Chinese name was Heng (興). He was a most important carver of the popular molds of Somdej Toh's SWRs.

Chinese Buddhists in Thailand also highly revered Somdej Toh, much like the Thai people. They were very pleased when they had been given SWRs from Somdej Toh.

They profoundly felt that it's a great pleasure if the backside of SWRs have Chinese characters on it, allowing Chinese relatives and friends to understandly read and pay their respects to. Somdej Toh benevolently approved the idea.

By Somdej Toh's permission, Chinese Buddhists who had artisan skills carved Chinese characters with auspicious blessing words, and Chinese surname on wooden blocks. They helped make Chinese-character back SWRs and presented to Somdej Toh for consecration. 

CHINESE RETURN HOME WITH
CHINESE-CHARACTER BACK SWRs:

Many Chinese residents in Thailand at that time, after achieving success in trade and becoming wealthy, returned to their homeland - China.

These Chinese carried SWRs with Chinese-character back with them to distribute to their relatives. They did so because they had direct experiences for the positive impact of SWRs which had helped them prosper in life, achieve success in trade, and enjoy safety and happy lives.

These Chinese believers, who had once resided in Thailand emphasizedly instructed their relatives to highly respect and pay homage to the SWRs for prosperity, good luck and safty in their lives.

This is the answer why some SWRs with Chinese-character back were found in China as well. These SWRs have been passed down through generations in China land.

POPULAR ITEMS:
Today, SWRs with Chinese-character back are popularly sought after and revered by the Chinese people, not only in China but also in other countries with a significant Chinese population, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, as well as Thailand - the original source.