Wat Chong Nonsi Ordination Hall Murals

THAILAND, Bangkok; Ayutthaya Kingdom

In the ordination hall of Wat Chong Nonsi in Bangkok, Thailand, the Buddhas of the Past are painted on the upper register of the side walls. Representations of the Ten Great Jatakas describing the last ten lives of the Buddha, including Prince Vessantara Jataka, Muga Pakkha Jataka, Vidhurapandita Jataka, and Mahanarada Kasyapa Jataka, occupy the lower register, divided by vertical stripes decorated with floral patterns.
Each illustration of a Jataka Tale is composed of several scenes separated by trees, buildings, or the jagged bands that are characteristic of Thai murals. The figures in the mural are outlined with black and lightly colored; some are adorned with golden ornaments. The background is painted in light brown; red is applied where there is earth or sky. Though some of the murals have faded, the surviving images are well preserved, serving as fine examples of the painting style of the late Ayutthaya Kingdom.