Wat Bang Yikhan Ordination Hall: Syama Jataka

THAILAND, Bangkok; Bangkok period

This mural is painted in the ordination hall of the Wat Bang Yikhan. It is based on the Pali Jataka No. 540, which tells of the Buddha’s past life as a boy named Syama, a filial son who took care of his old, blind parents. One day, when Syama went into the forest to fetch water, he was accidentally struck by an arrow fired by a hunting king. Touched by Syama’s filial piety, the heavenly being Sakra restored the boy to life.
On the left side of the mural, Syama loses his balance after he is hit by the arrow. He grasps the arrow in one hand, while a water vessel falls from the other. Although Syama is dressed like a hermit with a two-pointed hat, loincloth, and cape, he is also shown wearing golden ornaments as a symbol of his holiness and virtue, a common approach in traditional Thai art. On the right side of the painting, the king, standing in a dynamic pose with his right leg raised, releases his arrow. His graceful posture appears to have been inspired by Thai dance.