Illuminating the Life of the Buddha investigates an outstanding eighteenth-century samut khoi, a type of beautifully illustrated, folded book found in Southeast Asia and popular as a repository for the Buddha’s teachings. Written in Pali and produced in Siam, the samut khoi features finely executed paintings on khoi paper portraying key stories from the Buddha’s past lives. These stories, known as the Jatakas, were the principal means by which Buddhist teachings were communicated and were thus a favored theme for samut khoi. However, this samut khoi stands out for its extensive series of paintings from the last life of the Buddha, including his final awakening and teaching, which are distinctive to the region.
Affording readers immense insight into a spectacular eighteenth-century manuscript, and Thai Buddhist manuscripts and temple culture as a whole, this book will be of great interest to art historians and scholars of Buddhism and Southeast Asia.
目次
List of Illustrations Illustrated folios of the manuscript Map of the manuscript Preface
1 Introduction – Sarah Shaw 2 The past lives of the Buddha – Naomi Appleton Siricudama'i-Jataka Temiya-Jataka Janaka-Jataka Suva'asama-Jataka Nemi-Jataka Mahosadha-Jataka Bhuridatta-Jataka Candakumara-Jataka Narada-Jataka Vidhura-Jataka Vessantara-Jataka
3 The final life of the Buddha – Toshiya Unebe The birth of the Bodhisatta The four signs Leaving his family The great departure Cutting off the hair The lesson of the three strings The offering of milk-rice The victory over Mara The first sermon The return to Kapilavatthu The offering from elephant and monkey Taming the elephant The offering of a mango The miracles at Savatthi Teaching his mother in Tavati?sa Heaven The descent from Tavati?sa Heaven The cremation The division of the relics
4 The lifestory of a manuscript – Sarah Shaw
Notes Bibliography Glossary of key terms and figures Index
