Contemplating the Universe through Isan Mural Paintings (Hoop Tam)

Abstract

The academic article " Contemplating the Universe through Isan Mural Paintings (Hoop Tam)" aims to study the multiple universes in science and the five maxims in Buddhism and to analyze the Hoop Tam paintings on the walls of Isaan Sim by collecting information from documents, publications, online media, field data, surveys, non-participant observation, interviews, note-taking, photography, and data analysis & synthesis. In theory, multiple universes (the universe) are believed to exist; the study results found that the scientists have led to the hypothesis that there are many other universes, a parallel universe (Parallel World) with our universe that is hidden but that we cannot perceive through the latest technology or use ordinary physics theories. It aligns with the Buddhist concept that there are life systems of other living beings besides our world. It can be seen only by those with supernatural powers. The idea that the five maxims influence the universe in Buddhism are hell, the origin of beasts, the realm or realm of Preta, human beings, and angels from the analysis of Hoop tam paintings on the walls of Isaan Sim with the concept of the five mottos from Hoop tam in the Sim Wat Sanuanwaree Phatthanaram, Wat Pa Lelai, and Wat Na Phra That, it was found that the Hoop tam in the said sim had all five beliefs, and images of the origin of beasts and humans were the most common and were placed in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the sim wall. Images of hell and Preta, the paint, are arranged in the lower part of the wall, while the images of angels are placed in the upper part and distributed among essential sections in the central part of the wall.  It is, therefore, like a universe, consistent with the Buddhist concept of Isan architecture that emphasizes symbols of the universe. Consequently, the universe in Hoop Tam is a parallel universe (Parallel World) of Hoop Tam in another sim because of the same motto in creating sims.