COSMOLOGY SYSTEM OF THE MURAL PAINTING IN WAT SUTHAT THEPWARARAM RATCHAWORAMAHAWIHAN BANGKOK

Abstract

          The study of the Cosmology mural painting or Tribhumi-Lokasanthana in Wat Suthat Thepwararam, Bangkok, Thailand which was painted in the temple (Vihara) around the Early Rattanakosin period (Bangkok, 19^thcentury). This mural painting is considered to have a unique feature by presenting on the 8 square-pillars (4 pairs of pillars with different contents in 32 sides) instead of the wall as a traditional position. This transposition considerably changes the view of painting from 2 dimensional surface to 3 dimensional space with a complex order and composition.

          The result of the study revealed that there is a correlation of order, composition, content, and style between the cosmology painting in Wat Suthat and Wat Rakhang-Kositaram Bangkok (Before Wat Suthat), including Illustrated Manuscript of Tribhum in Ayutthaya, Thonburi, Rattanakosin period (c.17-19^th century), moreover, the content in this painting is also correlated to Buddhist scripture such as Tipitaka, Attakatha, Lokasatra (Buddhist Cosmology), including other literatures and fables.