Illustrated Manuscript of the Phra Malai Sutra (detail)
Ink and color on paper
Illustrated Manuscript of the Phra Malai Sutra
THAILAND
This is one of seven double sided illustrations in a 92-fold paper manuscript of the Phra Malai Sutra dated to 1868 and written in Khmer script. The sutra tells the story of a monk who visits both heaven and hell and returns to the human realm to propagate the Dharma. The text became popular and is often chanted at funeral services in Thailand.
The above fold depicts a green Sakra on the left and Four-Headed Brahma on the right. Both figures are seated on lotus thrones with joined palms and flanked by two heavenly beings, who kneel with their palms joined in reverence. Red flame patterns are painted in the background to render an impression of the heavenly scene.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O, page 364.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O},
pages = 364,
title = {{Illustrated Manuscript of the Phra Malai Sutra}},
volume = 15,
year = {2016}}