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Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai

Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai

Place of OriginCentral Thailand
Dateapprox. 1825-1875
MaterialsPaint, gold and ink on paper
DimensionsH. 5 1/2 in x W. 26 3/4 in x D. 3 1/4 in, H. 13.8 cm x W. 67.9 cm x D. 8.3 cm
Credit LineGift from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Southeast Asian Art Collection
Object number2006.27.86
DepartmentSoutheast Asian Art
ClassificationsBooks And Manuscripts
On View
Not on view
More Information

For Thai Buddhists, Phra Malai is the most important helper in hell. Famous for having accumulated so much merit (punya) that he can travel from world to world via supernatural powers (siddhi), Phra Malai’s mission is to explore the cosmos, mapping its various regions from heaven to, in our particular case, hell. In this painting, Phra Malai floats above the various horrors of hell at the top right of the painting, his telltale fan in his right hand.

Apparently, Phra Malai recognizes that the suffering of hell is either temporary or not real at all, for his beatific expression remains unchanged despite the gore he sees around him. Indeed, this painting is a veritable syllabus of clichéd Buddhist punishments. The centerpiece of the scene is a cauldron containing suffering, soaking sinners. Below the cauldron, a dog tears at the tender parts of a corpse.

Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
1844
Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
Manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
1791
(.a) A poor man hoes the ground; (.b) the monk Phra Malai carrying a fan and, under his outer robes, an alms bowl, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
(.a) A poor man hoes the ground; (.b) the monk Phra Malai carrying a fan and, under his outer robes, an alms bowl, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
The holy monk Phra Malai descends from Indra's Heaven, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
The holy monk Phra Malai descends from Indra's Heaven, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
1916 or earlier
The holy monk Phra Malai visits hell, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
The holy monk Phra Malai visits hell, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
1916 or earlier
The holy monk Phra Malai at the stupa of the hair relic in Indra's Heaven, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
The holy monk Phra Malai at the stupa of the hair relic in Indra's Heaven, scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
1916 or earlier
The deity Indra meets Phra Malai, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
The deity Indra meets Phra Malai, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
A poor man collects lotus flowers for Phra Malai to take as an offering to the hair-relic monument in Indra's heaven, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
A poor man collects lotus flowers for Phra Malai to take as an offering to the hair-relic monument in Indra's heaven, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
Monks touch their throats, perhaps hoarse from chanting, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
Monks touch their throats, perhaps hoarse from chanting, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
The bodhisattva Maitreya and his celestial attendants, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
The bodhisattva Maitreya and his celestial attendants, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
(.a) A man and woman bring offerings; (.b)A man carries a youngster, perhaps to present him to a monastery to eventually become a novice; a woman, perhaps the little boy's mother, grieves, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
(.a) A man and woman bring offerings; (.b)A man carries a youngster, perhaps to present him to a monastery to eventually become a novice; a woman, perhaps the little boy's mother, grieves, from a manuscript of scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1790-1825
Flying celestials, from a manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
Flying celestials, from a manuscript with scenes from the story of the holy monk Phra Malai
approx. 1875-1925