 The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya order of Thai Theravada Buddhism, it is the shrine-hall of "Phra Phuttha Chinnasi" (พระพุทธชินสีห์), a statue of the Buddha which dates to around 1357.Bowonniwet has been a major temple of patronage for the ruling Chakri dynasty.It is where many royal princes and kings studied and served their monkhood, including King Bhumibol and his son, the present king Vajiralongkorn.