Manuscripts from the Kingdom of Siam in Japan
Penn collection
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
Abhidhamma
Samut Khoi
Siam
Thailand
Buddhism
Manuscripts
vernacular
Medieval Studies
South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Contributor
Abstract
In this chapter, the textual contents of the illustrated samut khoi-s in Thailand, are examined. Samut khoi manuscripts are an important resource for the study of Siamese and Buddhist literature in the 18th and 19th centuries. Samut khoi-s are divided into two groups. Both groups use a script called “Khom” (อักษรขอม), but one group uses a thin character set, and the other a thick and calligraphic character set. The chief text of eighteenth century samut khoi-s, the Mahābuddhaguṇa, shows what great importance Thai Buddhists attached to the Buddha-anussati, the recollection of the Buddha. In the 19th century, there was a growth of the tale of Phra Malai in the Thai vernacular language —- a story of a monk named Māleyya (in Pāli) who travels to hells to help people, and to Tāvatiṃsa heaven to meet the future Buddha Metteya — was very popular at funeral ceremonies.