Prince Vessantara Jataka

THAILAND

Painted banners like this are displayed in Thai temples during the Thet Mahachat (Telling of the Great Birth Story) ceremony held annually between October and December. Over several days, monks continuously recite the Vessantara Jataka from morning until night.
This watercolor picture consists of two scenes. In the lower left corner, Prince Vessantara, his wife, and two children sit in a chariot drawn by a stag. On the right, a brahmin kneels, joins his palms, and asks Vessantara for the stag and the chariot. On a knoll above, the family is shown continuing their journey on foot after the generous prince honors the brahmin’s request. Though they have given away all their possessions, the royal family is still depicting wearing tall headdresses and golden ornaments. The two-dimensional figures and stylized trees date the picture to the early 19th century, prior to the popularization of European painting techniques.