In 1434 lightning struck the chedi of Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, revealing a simple stucco image. The abbot of the temple kept it in his residence until the flaking plaster exposed a jadeite image beneath. Upon learning of the discovery, the king of Chiang Mai sent an army of elephant to bring the image to him.The elephant bearing the Emerald Buddha, however,refused to take the road to Chiang Mai, and , treating this as an auspicious sign, the entourage re-routed to Lampang. The image was moved several more times over the next century , then was taken to Wat Pha Kaew in Laos in 1552, It was not until General Chakri (later Rama I) captured Vientiance in 1778 that the Emerald Buddha was returned to Thailand. It was kept in Wat Arun for 15 years, before a grand river procession brought it to its curent resting place on March 5,1785.
