Warangkana Srikamnerd
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Thai,
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
This paper aims to study the narratives of the four assemblies in Wat Phra Chetuphon Inscriptions in order to consider its significance as a part of Thai Buddhist literatures inscribed in Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimolmangalaram or Wat Pho.
The narratives of the four assemblies are depicted in the uposatha and the vihara of the Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho. They consist of mural paintings and the inscribed captions and explanations from texts. This presentation of the narratives is interesting since it reflects the change of the convention of narrating Buddhist stories through mural paintings in a temple which usually depicts the scenes from Buddha’s biography and jātakas without explanation. It therefore demonstrates the new trend of narrating Buddhist stories in temples in the reign of King Rama III.
It is clear that the presentation of the narratives using inscribed caption and explanation associated to the paintings is an efficient technique to convey the Buddhist teaching to the audience since it gives a clear and accurate understanding of the stories. The audience can also learn about the stories of the great disciples apart from the stories of the Lord Buddha. The narratives of the four assemblies are good examples demonstrating the importance of the Wat Phra Chetuphon inscription in spreading knowledge, promoting faith, and prolonging the glory of Buddhism by transmitting Buddhist wisdom to the people. All of which are venerated as supreme meritorious acts and great offering to the Lord Buddha.
(Presented in the 2012 Chulalongkorn-EFEO International Conference on Buddhist Studies : Imagination, Narrative, and Localization, 6-7 January 2012, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, organized by Faculty of Arts and Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University In conjunction with The Buddhist Studies Group, EFEO)