Conveying Buddhist Teachings in Mural Paintings of Thai Artists

Abstract

In the old days, Thai artists painted murals for entertainment and for strengthening faith in Buddhism. Murals are seen adorning the walls of ubosot (consecration or ordination hall), vihara (sermon hall), and other buildings in a temple. Traditional art works often depict jataka tales, tales of the life of the Buddha, and the Tribhumi (The Three Worlds in Buddhist Cosmology.) These murals are testimony to two millennia of the appeal of Buddhism in the heart and mind of Thai people. These pictorial teachings depict actions of good and evil, encouraging the former while discouraging the latter. Existing murals, the oldest of which can be traced back 700 years, express diverse themes and concepts that reflect the social outlook of various periods in Thai history. These depicted stories remind all of us of the true merit of Thai painters and their superb painting skills.