Exhibition
Thai Buddhist Tales
Stories along the Path to Enlightenment
The Chester Beatty preserves an internationally important yet little known collection of Buddhist manuscripts from Thailand. Unfolding a selection of these books, this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to explore the Buddhist tales depicted within.
Extracts from the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Qualities of the Buddha (Mahabuddhaguna)
Late 18th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 1341
Extracts from the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Qualities of the Buddha (Mahabuddhaguna)
18th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 1344
Extracts of the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Story of Phra Malai
Late 19th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 1323
Extracts from the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Story of Phra Malai
1895
Thailand
CBL Thi 1318
Extracts from the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Story of Phra Malai
Late 18th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 1328
Presented as colourful illustrations alongside sacred texts, some of the most popular stories found within Thai Buddhist manuscripts are the birth tales of the Buddha and the legend of the monk Phra Malai. From moral tales to noble quests, these pictures from the path to enlightenment offer an enchanting introduction to Thailand’s rich Buddhist heritage and its most cherished stories.
