A REFLEXION ON MURAL PAINTINGS OF THE 24th – 25th BUDDHIST ERAS AROUND THE SAKAKRANG RIVER SOCIETY, AMPHOE MUEANG, UTHAI THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research covers five temples located in Amphoe Muang, Uthai Thanee province, where mural paintings were discovered: Ubo-satharam temple, Pichai-puranaram temple, Thamma-khosok temple, Ammarit-thavaree temple and Mai-chantharam temple. The temples were built around the 24th - 25th Buddhist era, and each temple has its own unique character and story.

During the 24th - 25th Buddhist eras, several races, including Chinese, Laos, Karieng and local people, had already immigrated and settled around Sakaekrang river. Each ethnic group influenced the style of the mural paintings, representing the state of society at that period in time.

From this study, we can see fine examples of the Laos influence upon mural paintings on the outside wall of Ubo-satharam temple. The mural paintings were influenced by the Northeastern people of Thailand, judging from the natural scenes depicted on the paintings; specifically, chapters about Vessantara Jataka which are painted inside the building. In addition, Laotian local people are clearly recognizable depicted in the painting visible when entering Mahaniravana—of the Lord Buddha’s life, which has never been found anywhere else.

The social revolution during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V introduced new painting themes, for instance: the story depiction of worship of Buddha's footprint, at Saraburee province, which is about traditional culture; the ten Asupa-kammathan images, which represent the monk’s duties; the Chantakolop folktale story depiction. Even though, the new painting themes were fully developed, it can be interpreted that the local people still maintained their original beliefs in supernatural miracles such as the story of the Malai monk.

All of these mural paintings at the five temples provide tremendous opportunities for study by future generations, especially areas such as: characteristics, painting techniques, lifestyle, the costume styles of the people around Sakaekrang River and the social revolution during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V which include images of motorboats, steamships and the rice mill chimneys.