Life
of the Lord Buddha
 Many
Thai artists derived their inspiration from religious fables
that recall the various episodes in the life of the Lord Buddha
and his path to enlightenment.
Some
of the popular scenes depicted in the mural paintings include
his birth as Prince Sitthattha; and more unpleasant scenes
of an old man, an ill man, a dead man and a monk. These scenes
helped the Prince see human suffering in its many forms. The
scenes inspired him to become a monk, to search for the truth
of life. Other themes include the Prince’s last look at his
sleeping wife and child before fleeing to become a monk; paintings
of Prince Sithattha cutting his hair prior to entering the
monkhood; paintings showing the demons of evil trying to tempt
him before attaining Enlightenment; and paintings depicting
the Lord Buddha reclining between two Sal trees, just before
achieving nirvana.
The
temple murals depicting scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha
can be seen in almost all Thai temples.
Masterpieces
of Mural Painting
 Visitors
can find superb works of art in several old temples in Bangkok.
Among them is Wat Suwannaram and Wat Thong Thammachart in
Thonburi, and the ordination hall of Wat Bang Khunthian Nai.
Wat
Thong Thammachart has a superb example of the Great Renunciation.
The best painting at Wat Bang Khunthian Nai has a very sophisticated
depiction of the Assault of the Mara. The mural features intricate
but humorous details.
Wat
Suthat, near the office of the Bangkok Municipality, is another
good place to see Thai temple paintings. The superb murals,
on both plastered masonry and wooden partitions, depict in
exquisite detail and with consummate skill both sacred and
profane scenes. Among the masonry murals, the temple’s version
of the Great Renunciation is elegantly executed in subdued
tones; the same scene as that in Wat Thong Thammachart, yet
different in its approach.
But
don’t confine yourself to Bangkok only. In the north, Wat
Phra Singh in Chiang Mai is renowned for its fantastic murals.
The mural from Wat Phumin in Nan, painted in the mid-19th
century, is another excellent example. The mural depicts
Jataka tales and also illustrates aspects of northern Thai
life. Murals dating from that period commonly contain scenes
from everyday life, local myths, birds, animals and plants,
as well as religious themes.
In
the northeast, Wat Thung Sri Muang in Ubon Ratchathani is
home to beautiful mural paintings. And if you are going south,
a special treat awaits at Wat Huai Toei in Pak Phayun district,
Pattani province. This temple houses the Phra Bot banner,
only recently discovered and restored. It consists of cloth
paintings of scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha. Although
the paintings lack the sophistication of Bangkok’s temples,
they undoubtedly have a charm of their own.
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