Knowledge from Mural Paintings of Wat Toei in Bangtanai Subdistrict, Pakkret District, Nonthaburi Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to study the details and history of the mural paintings of Wat Toei in Bangtanai Subdistrict, Pakkret District, Nonthaburi Province, and 2) to systematically collect and disseminate the knowledge of Wat Toei murals in print media. It is a qualitative research, based on documents and in-depth interviews with 4 community experts and 1 painting artist, a total of 5 people. The data collection period was from February - April 2021. The results showed that Bang Tanai Subdistrict, Pakkret District, Nonthaburi Province is a Mon community that immigrated to live since the late Ayutthaya period and Wat Toei is considered as one of the temples that have created outstanding murals by Ajarn Thep Neramit, Thai painting and skilled craftsman of the Fine Arts Department. The painting in the ubosot is a traditional Thai painting with a blend of Thai and Mon cultures. The color of the painting is quite bright, colorful, and not pale. The painting depicts the story of the Lord Buddha, starting from the period when Thao Sakka Thewarat invited Thao Sandusit Thewarat to come down from heaven and be reborn to enlighten as Lord Buddha until entering nirvana, and also the Ten Jataka tales. The highlight that reflects being Mon in the uposatha hall is the Dhamma chanting, Namotassa to Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta which is written in Mon characters around the uposatha hall. This is an important identity of Mon art that commonly applies abstract beliefs about Buddhism to convey as artistic works.