Research & Article

A richly illustrated Phra Malai text, held in the Chester Beatty collection of Thai manuscripts, was recently restored, so that it could be studied for the first time. It dates from the late 18th century when it was created for a Mon monastery located in present-day Thonburi District. The preliminary section that traditionally precedes the actual Phra Malai journey is identified as a condensed version of the Tipitaka. In many respects the illustrations conform with Thai works of the same era, but a number of anomalies were identified, all of which could be related to aspects of Mon culture. Either a skilled Thai artist introduced Mon elements in order to please his clients, or a Mon artist familiar with Thai art occasionally revealed aspects of his native culture.