The Value of mural paintings of Lai Kham Vihara, Wat Phra Singh Varamahavihara

Abstract

This research is of 3 objectives: 1) to study the development of mural paintings in Buddhism, 2) to study the mural paintings of Lai Kham Vihara,
Wat Phra Singh Varamahavihara and 3) to analyze the value of the mural
paintings of Lai Kham Vihara, Wat Phra Singh Varamahavihara. This is a qualitative research composed by interviews the key informants. Data are analyzes by content analysis and presented by descriptive report. 

The researchís results are found that 1) The oldest Buddhist
MuralPaintings in the world were found in Ajanta Caves Which are located among the mountains in the Western part of the Deccan Plateau, India. They were the mural paintings painted during the 3^rd - 7^th Centuries. The painted stories were about the  stories about Buddhism, story of the Buddha, and various Jatakas. They were  beautifully and lively painted with fresco painting. It is considered as a model that contributes to the Dvaravatiís Arts. 2) In the Mural Paintings of the Lai Kham Vihara, the paintings took up the space of all walls except the main wall behide the Buddha statute. Thae are gilded with the gold patterns that had been influenced by Chinese style. The painting stories are Sang Thong and Suvanna Hong. The Sang Thong was painted on the  left hand wall of the Buddha Statue, while the Suvanna Hong was painted on the right hand wall of the Buddha Statue. 3) The Mural Paintings of Lai Kham
Vihara, Wat Phra Singh Varamahavihara contained of  6 values;  (1) the
historical value (2) the artistic value (3) the morale value (4) the beauty value  (5) the Buddhist literary value and (6) the social, cultural, artistic and traditional values.