Wat Phumin Main Hall: Life of the Buddha - First Turning of the Dharma Wheel

THAILAND, Nan; Bangkok period

This mural is located above the entrance of the main hall of Wat Phumin in Nan, Thailand. It depicts the Buddha in Sarnath, teaching the Dharma for the first time after his enlightenment. The Buddha is in the center of the upper register, sitting in lotus position on a lotus throne and forming the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. The Buddha’s former companions in asceticism, converted by his teachings, kneel beside him, dressed in orange monastic robes. Short trees are painted between the figures. Birds fly above mountains in the upper register. In contrast to many other works depicting this scene, only four of the five companions described in the sutras are shown listening to the Dharma.
The mural’s color scheme is characteristic of a style developed during the Lanna Thai Kingdom (circa 1259–1558) that emphasizes the use of blue, brown, and red. The naturalistic treatment and layering of the landscapes, from the short trees in the foreground to the mountains above, adds depth to the scene.