Phra Malai (5 results)

Oblong folding-book manuscript (samut khoi, khoi book), 690 x 137 mm. Thai manuscript on khoi paper in black Khom Thai script. With 40 hand-painted miniatures. Concertina-folded and written on both rectos and versos. With 2 illuminations appearing in pairs on the left and right borders of the manuscript (thus comprising 40 pictures in total). Contemporary black lacquered limp wrappers. This sumptuously illustrated folding book (samut khoi) tells the legend of the Phra Malai, a beloved adventure fable of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, alongside the Jakata Tales of the past lives of the Buddha, illustrated with 40 miniatures. According to his legend, the monk Phra Malai accumulates so much merit through good deeds and meditation that he acquires supernatural powers, with which he travels across the mortal world, into hell, and to the heavenly realm. Each of these adventures is lavishly illustrated, and told with sometimes risqué good humour. - This manuscript boasts 40 hand-painted illustrations in a fine and detailed style, from animal encounters to the heavenly stupas; several show punishments of hell, and yet another shows the pure gift of eight lotus flowers from a poor woodcutter. - In 19th century Thai Buddhist communities, a fine folding book like this one would often be commissioned for a funeral celebration at which monks would give a theatrical reading of Phra Malai's adventures. This manuscript retains its original dedication: "This Malai was published by donation from Mr. Rord and Mrs. Saeng to worship Phra-Sri-Ariya-Mettrai [the future Buddha] and with this donation they wished to achieve the Nip-parn [Nirvana]" (transl). - Beyond Phra Malai, folding books are an integral part of the manuscript traditions of Buddhists in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Sri Lanka, likely originating in the latter, and are often called 'khoi books' after the bark paper from which they are made (another common term used in English is parabike, from Cambodian). - The legend of Phra Malai itself is based on an earlier Pali story, but in the Thai manuscript tradition, Phra Malai appears in the vernacular, written in Thai and usually in the Thom Kai script, a variant of Khmer script, but which includes Thai tone markers. Most are illustrated, but the number and quality of the miniatures herein set this manuscript apert. - Light wear to covers and hinges; miniatures gently rubbed in spots; a few modern corrections to text. In good condition. - 1) Commissioned and donated to an unnamed temple by Mr. Rord and Mrs. Saeng. - 2) Purchased from Good Luck Antiques, Bangkok, Thailand, in the 1970s; original purchase receipt included. - 3) Private collection, New Jersey, USA. - 4) Artemis Gallery.

Oblong folding-book manuscript (samut khoi, khoi book), 672 x 145 mm. Thai manuscript on khoi paper in black Khom Thai script. 51 ff. Concertina-folded and written on both recto and verso. With 12 illuminations appearing in pairs on the left and right borders of the manuscript. Contemporary laqcuered limp boards, sans rear board. All edges gilt. This sumptuously illustrated folding book (samut khoi) tells the legend of the Phra Malai, a beloved adventure fable of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The monk Phra Malai accumulates so much merit through good deeds and meditation that he acquires supernatural powers, with which he travels across the mortal world, into hell, and to the heavenly realm. Each of these adventures lavishly illustrated, and told with sometimes risqué good humor. - This manuscript boasts 12 hand-painted illustrations, from the writhing masses of hell to the heavenly stupas; two somewhat bawdily show nude men pursuing female figures, only to have their genitals chewed by wild animals, and yet another shows the pure gift of eight lotus flowers from a poor woodcutter. - In 19th century Thai Buddhist communities, a fine folding book like this one would probably be commissioned for a funeral celebration where monks would give a theatrical reading of Phra Malai's adventures. Beyond Phra Malai, folding books are an integral part of the manuscript traditions of Buddhists in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Sri Lanka, likely originating in the latter, and are often called 'khoi books' after the bark paper from which they are made (another common term used in English is parabike, from Cambodian). - The legend itself is based on an earlier Pali story, but in the Thai manuscript tradition, Phra Malai appears in the vernacular, written in Thai and usually in the Thom Kai script, a variant of Khmer script, but which includes Thai tone markers. This manuscript was probably one of many commissioned by the family of a deceased loved one, as a traditional offering to gather merit for a soul navigating hell and reincarnation. - Wants rear cover. Some rubbing to exterior, occasional rubbing to text and illumination; in good condition.

Oblong folding-book manuscript (samut khoi, khoi book), 360 x 120 mm. Thai manuscript on khoi paper in black Khom Thai script; first leaf in gold ink on black background. 25 ff. Concertina-folded and written on both rectos and versos. With 2 illuminations appearing in pairs on the left and right borders of the manuscript (thus comprising 4 pictures in total). Contemporary black lacquered limp wrappers. A lovely Thai Buddhist folding book (samut khoi), with excerpts from the legend of the Phra Malai, a beloved adventure fable of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, whose story often appears alongside other popular Buddhist tales. This manuscript opens its two main sections (split into the recto pages and verso pages of the folding book) with beautiful gold ink calligraphy on a field of black, flanked by particularly fine paintings on each side of the text. - In 19th century Thai Buddhist communities, a fine folding book like this one might be commissioned for a funeral celebration where monks would give a theatrical reading of Buddhist tales and Phra Malai's adventures. Such folding books are an integral part of the manuscript traditions of Buddhists not only in Thailand, but also Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Sri Lanka, likely originating in the latter, and are often called 'khoi books' after the bark paper from which they are made (another common term used in English is parabike, from Cambodian). - The legend of Phra Malai itself is based on an earlier Pali story, but in the Thai manuscript tradition, Phra Malai appears in the vernacular, written in Thai and usually in the Thom Kai script, a variant of Khmer script, but which includes Thai tone markers. This manuscript was probably one of many commissioned by the family of a deceased loved one, as a traditional offering to gather merit for a soul navigating hell and reincarnation. - One chip in the centrefold of the first leaf; some rubbing. In good condition.

Oblong folding-book manuscript (samut khoi, khoi book), 670 x 145 mm. Thai manuscript on khoi paper in black Khom Thai script. 49 ff. Concertina-folded and written on both recto and verso. With 22 illuminations appearing in pairs on the left and right borders of the manuscript, and one full-page illumination. Contemporary black and gilt floral boards. This sumptuously illustrated folding book (samut khoi) tells the legend of the Buddhist monk Phra Malai, a famous fable of the Theravada Buddhist tradition. Phra Malai accumulates so much merit through good deeds and meditation that he acquires supernatural powers and travels across the mortal world, into hell, and to the heavenly realm. This story is of particular importance in Thai Buddhism, and a fine folding book like this one would likely be commissioned for a funeral celebration, where monks would give a theatric reading of the story. - Folding books such as these are an integral part of the manuscript traditions of Buddhists in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Sri Lanka, likely originating in the latter, and are often called 'khoi books' after the bark paper from which they are made (another common term used in English is parabike, from Cambodian). Khoi books come in two types, white-paper and black-paper, with white-paper khoi books such as this one particularly noted for their intricate and colourful illustrations. - This particular manuscript boasts 23 hand-painted illustrations showing scenes from Phra Malai's legend. They include the monk's journey to the Buddhist hell (bodies are boiled in a cauldron), the gift of eight lotus flowers from a poor woodcutter, and a glimpse of the Chulamani Chedi, the heavenly stupa. The legend itself is based on an earlier Pali story, but in the Thai manuscript tradition, Phra Malai appears in the vernacular, written in Thai and usually in the Thom Kai script, a variant of Khmer script, but which includes Thai tone markers. The story itself is one of the most popular subjects of 19th century Thai manuscripts, and is commonly combined with other Buddhist stories and illustrations. This one was probably one of many commissioned by the family of a deceased loved one, as a traditional offering to gather merit for a soul navigating hell and reincarnation. - Light exterior wear and rubbing; a few corrections made to the text using ink and white paint.

14.5x67.5 cm (leporello - or concertina style), 94 leaves, written and illustrated on recto / verso, each leaf appr. 14.5x 67.5 cm (of a total length of ca. 1363 cm), illustrated with 24 most beautiful double-page miniatures (12 double-pages on each side), contemporary painted black boards. This Buddhist manuscript contains most likely the account of the monk Phra Malai, often found in illustrated Thai manuscripts of that time. According to this story Phra Malai acquires extraordinary powers through his merits and meditation, which allow him to travel between heaven and hell. Back on earth, the monk preaches about the things he has seen and what to expect from these places in our own future. Consequently it was widely used as a preaching text at funerals. The miniatures present a.o. angels hovering through the air, the gods Brahma and Indra, a poor man picking waterlilies and offering them to Phra Malai to take with him to the heavens as a gift, people suffering on the thorn tree (the punishment for adulterers in hell), a buddhist ascetic in front of a cave and a man fighting demons.Please notify before visiting to see a book. Prices are excl. VAT/TVA (only Switzerland) & postage. For the popularity and iconography of Phra Malai manuscripts see: H. Ginsburg, Thai manuscript painting (1989), mainly chapter 5.