The Composition of Mural Painting that Emphasize the Axis to the Principal Buddha’s Image in the Ordination Hall of the Late Ayutthaya Period

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze compositions of mural paintings that emphasize a viewpoint to the principal Buddha’s image in the ordination hall (Ubosot) to confirm the concept of symmetrical layout approaching to the Buddha’s image in Ubosot. In general, Ubosot is located at Buddha’s shrine and it also has a meaning of a place of the Lord Buddha. However, there is a lack of empirical data to support this interior environment concept. Therefore, the main research question is how to arrange the compositions of mural painting that emphasize the approach to the principal Buddha’s image. To answer, this research chose three important case studies in Wat No Phutthangkun, Wat Pratu San at Suphanburi province and Wat Koh Kaew Suttharam at Phetchaburi province. All of them, similar in area sizes and dimensions, are Ubosot in the late Ayutthaya period. In addition, their interiors have murals paintings that are drawn across all four sides of the walls and the condition in every side is still in good condition. This research is a survey study based on building surveys and photographing mural paintings. As a consequence, the compositions of the mural paintings affecting the vista of the Buddha’s image were compared and analyzed by referring to the mural painting elements from the literature review.

The findings of this research indicate that compositions of mural paintings could create the approach to the principal Buddha’s image through two important methods which are 1) to divide the mural painting with Thai patterned lines making the vanishing point direct to the principal Buddha’s image by Thai front line, Sintao lines (or zigzag lines), and Horh lines (or curved lines) and 2) to decorate the mural painting plane with the triangle shape emphasizing the principal Buddha’s image. In brief, with these two methods, it could confirm the concept of using symmetrical balance emphasizing the perspective towards the Buddha’s image in a three-dimensional manner of interior environment decoration. This data could be used to explain and teach students in the next field studies.