Luang Pu Liew turtle amulet (Phaya Tao Ruean), Run Traimas (the three-month rains-retreat batch), copper, B.E. 2536 (1993), from Wat Rai Taeng Thong in Nakhon Pathom. Consecrated continuously through the full three-month retreat, the shell covered in Thai sacred script, original loop intact. Certified CO06545. One piece only.
1. What is a Phaya Tao Ruean turtle amulet
Phaya Tao Ruean (พญาเต่าเรือน) means turtle king. The whole amulet is cast as a turtle with the master image at the centre of the shell. In Thai belief the turtle stands for longevity and for wealth that accumulates steadily and stays, rather than sudden windfalls. The genre exists almost entirely because of one monk: Luang Pu Liew.
Key facts
- Type: Turtle coin amulet (Rian Tao Ruean)
- Batch: Run Traimas, the three-month rains-retreat batch
- Material: copper (Nuea Thong Daeng)
- Year: B.E. 2536 (1993 CE), when the master was 88
- Temple: Wat Rai Taeng Thong, Nakhon Pathom
- Master: Luang Pu Liew Punnako (B.E. 2448 to 2543 / 1905 to 2000)
- Certificate: no. CO06545, card GJ08-C8DFA
- Casing: bare amulet with original loop, waterproof case available on request
- Stock: one piece only
2. What Traimas means
Traimas (ไตรมาส) is the three-month rains retreat, the vassa, when Thai monks stay within the monastery rather than travelling, devoting the period to precepts, chanting and meditation.
A batch named Traimas means the amulets were kept in the hall for the entire retreat and received consecration continuously alongside the daily chanting, rather than being blessed once at a single ceremony held on an auspicious day. For collectors this is a plain statement about the level of consecration, carried in the batch name itself.
3. Who was Luang Pu Liew
Luang Pu Liew Punnako was born in Nakhon Pathom in B.E. 2448 (1905) and passed away in B.E. 2543 (2000) at the age of 95. He spent most of his monastic life at Wat Rai Taeng Thong, known for austerity and for directing donations into building, schooling and relief work while living very plainly himself. From the late B.E. 2510s he produced turtle amulets batch after batch and became the master the whole genre is measured against.
He was 88 when this batch was issued in B.E. 2536, at the height of his late-life standing; several pieces from that year are known in the market by his 88th year.
4. Blessings and who it suits
- Wealth attraction and wealth retention
- Business luck, customer affinity, sales
- Metta Maha Lap: mercy-driven charm and mentor support
- Steady accumulation, longevity and health
- Protection from danger and safe travel
Suited to business owners, sales professionals, those seeking financial stability, devotees of Luang Pu Liew, and first-time buyers who want a genuine vintage piece within a sensible budget. Not recommended for pregnant women or children under 16.
Note: Thai amulets are objects of faith and cultural collection. Their purpose is to remind the wearer to keep precepts and act well. The blessings described here reflect Thai devotional tradition and are not a financial, medical or legal guarantee of any kind.
5. Craftsmanship
Front: cast as a complete turtle, the shell built as concentric ovals carrying Thai sacred script with the temple and master names, Luang Pu Liew seated in meditation at the centre on a lotus base. Head, four legs and tail are cast as one with further script and ornament on the legs and tail, the outline crisp.
Back and edge: master seal and yantra inscriptions. The copper carries a golden-brown patina from more than thirty years of natural ageing, restrained in lustre and not artificially aged.
The original loop at the top is intact and takes a chain directly, or a waterproof case. A moderate size that wears comfortably every day.
6. FAQ
Q: Is it authentic, and how can I check?
A: It ships with a Thai authentication card, certificate no. CO06545, card no. GJ08-C8DFA, issued 18 August B.E. 2569, naming the amulet, the temple (Wat Rai Taeng Thong) and the province (Nakhon Pathom), with two signatures and a QR code you can scan yourself. Backed by our ten-times refund guarantee.
Q: How does a Traimas batch differ in consecration?
A: Traimas means the three-month retreat, so these amulets received consecration continuously through that whole period, whereas most commemorative batches are blessed at one large ceremony on a chosen day. Both are recognised in Thai practice; the difference is the span of time. Collectors who value prolonged consecration watch for Traimas batches specifically.
Q: Can this price really buy a genuine Luang Pu Liew?
A: This piece carries a Thai certificate you can verify by QR, and our ten-times refund guarantee stands behind it. Price follows batch, material and mould: this is a standard-mould copper piece rather than a scarce silver-enamel or Jumbo format, so it costs less. As a sacred object and in terms of certification, nothing is lesser about it.
Q: How do I care for copper?
A: Copper is hard wearing and suits daily wear; the patina deepens with time and should not be polished away, since over-cleaning destroys it. If you wear it against skin every day a waterproof case is recommended. Ask at checkout and we will fit one in Bangkok before shipping.
Q: How should I wear it?
A: On the chest with the turtle head upward, alone or with other amulets. Keeping the five precepts and giving to others is considered the most important part of wearing any amulet.
7. About this specific piece
Photographed as received, one piece only, sold with its original certificate. Our team is based in Bangkok, sources and verifies every amulet in Thailand, and ships worldwide.
Last updated: 2026-09-15 | Merit Messenger team, based in Bangkok
