The Lost “Marble Inscriptions of Herbal Formulas” at Wat Ratcha-orasaram Ratchaworawihan

Abstract

The inscriptions of herbal formulas at Wat Ratcha-orasaram Ratchaworawihan contain invaluable Thai
wisdom. Herbal formulas were inscribed on gray marble slobs (33 cm2), from one angle to the opposite angle,
for a total of 17 lines each. These marble inscriptions were placed on the outside walls of the corridors of the
viharn of the Sleeping Buddha and along the wall of the sala in front of the ubosoth. Currently, 50 inscriptions,
out of the total originally believed to be 92, can be seen. This documentary research compares these 50
marble inscriptions with copied versions (both published or unpublished). Since 1969, five lost inscriptions
have been found. This report illustrates these five lost inscriptions together with the inscriptions written in
the modern Thai alphabet, and provides translations of the inscriptions.