European Guardians

Wat Pho, Bangkok

Humorously-depicted Europeans ("Farangs") guard the temple's gates. Wat Pho was founded in 1688 and remodeled in 1781 by king Rama I, with additional building by Rama III in the 1830s. At that time the complex became a sort of university which taught an eclectic mix of subjects including Thai massage (still practiced today on the grounds), astrology, geometry, and palmistry.

European Guardians are also found in Bali, for example at Taman Gili and Pura Taman Ayun.