Bagan Temple 1077: Illustrations of Jataka Tales

MYANMAR, Mandalay, Bagan; Bagan Empire

Located on the north and south walls of the antechamber of Bagan Temple 1077, these murals date back to the time of the Bagan Empire, when images of Jataka tales were a popular subject for artists. The order of the scenes in the murals is based on the Pali version of the Jatakas. The images on the north wall area are accompanied by inscriptions in Burmese stating the title, the painting number, and the name that Sakyamuni Buddha has in that particular Jataka.
There are 16 rows of 17 squares on each wall for a total of 544 squares that each depict a different Jataka tale. The order of the images alternates from row to row: the sequence of images in the upper row moves from left to right, and the next row moves from right to left. The figures in the paintings have simple facial features and are painted in monochromatic colors.