MONK DISCIPLINE PAINTINGS DURING THE REIGN OF RAMA IV : THE STORY BEHIND THE WINDOW AND DOOR PANELS

Abstract

King Rama IV’s royal temples are decorated with mural paintings. Upon the reverse side of window and door panels, also upon the frames, pictures are painted in a realistic western style. Stories depicted include : forbidden meat for monks, 8 certain fruits for making juices, fruits in big sizes which are not allowed for making proper drinks and meditating whilst considering a corpse.

The painter(s) chose these images as the essence of the Tripitaka, in order to guide the monks to maintain their practice of self-discipline while they were fully ordained. Considering the monk’s daily obligation to open-and-shut all the portals and take care of the temple, they were the ones who closely viewed these paintings. The monastic disciplines told on these images reflected Rama IV’s objective to train the monks in their strict practice following the Vinaya. This was especially relevant for monks who ordained in the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order. The Tripitaka interpretations in these paintings are also evidence supporting the fact that Rama IV used these scripture for reforming the monastic establishment and establishing his Dhammayuttika Nikaya order. Furthermore, the depictions of the monastic discipline in mural paintings, which decorated the areas mentioned above, indicate Rama IV’s images as clearly distinct from the painting style of Rama III. /p>