Phra Saeng Khan Chai Si[1][2] orPhra Saeng Khan Chai Sri[3] (Thai:พระแสงขรรค์ชัยศรี, the "Venerable Sword of Victory",[2] "Great Sword of Victory"[3][a]) is part of the royalregalia of theKing of Thailand. The sword represents the military might and power of the king. Thehilt has a length of 25.4 centimetres (10 inches) with theblade measuring 64.5 centimetres (25 inches). When placed in thescabbard the sword has a total length of 101 centimetres (40 inches) and weighs 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds). The sword’s neck between the blade and the hilt is decorated with a gold inlaid miniature ofVishnu riding theGaruda.[citation needed]
It is a double-edged iron sword with aquartz hilt, held in a scabbard made of gold, inlaid with precious stones.[1] It was among the relics discovered in 1957 from the crypt atWat Ratchaburana.[1]
According to a stone inscription[b] describing the history of theSukhothai Kingdom,Pho Khun Pha Mueang had been given the sword Phra Saeng Khan chai si by his father, Pho Khun Si Nao Num.[5]
However, a story has been circulated that the sword was found in 1784 by a fisherman in Cambodia who found it in his fishing net (inTonle Sap[citation needed]) atSiem Riep, and Chao Phraya Uthai Phubet who ruled presented it toPhutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I) ofThailand,[6][c] hissuzerain at the time. According to legend, it was said that the moment the blade arrived inBangkok, seven lightning strikes hit the city simultaneously, including the city gate (Wiset Chaisi), where the blade entered, and over the main gate of theGrand Palace (Phiman Chaisi).[6]
During thecoronation ceremony the king is handed the sword by aBrahmin, then straps it onto his belt himself. The sword features heavily in theOath of Allegiance Ceremony where the King ceremoniously dips the sword into a bowl ofsacred water, and then drinks the water as an example, followed by senior civil servants and military officers as a sign of allegiance to the institution of the monarchy.[citation needed]
The seal is surrounded by five major items of royal regalia : the Great Crown of Victory , the double - edged Great Sword of Victory (Phra Saeng Khan Chai Sri).
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