Elements of art and literature in the murals of Wat Pho Kham and Wat Phutthasima, Nakhon Phanom Province

Athichart   Thengwattanachote; Noppadon   Chasanguan; Aeknarin   Klaewklong; Kanamporn Pasri; Suwat   Suwat; Kungsadal   Jongka; Umnart   Sunaprom

doi:10.14456/tiat.2025.2

Authors

Athichart Thengwattanachote Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Noppadon Chasanguan Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Aeknarin Klaewklong Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Kanamporn Pasri Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Suwat Suwat Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Kungsadal Jongka Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand
Umnart Sunaprom Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/tiat.2025.2

Keywords:

Mural paintings, Artistic elements, Literature, Nakhon Phanom, Lan Xang

Abstract

The research titled "Elements of art and literature in the murals of Wat Pho Kham and Wat Phutthasima, Nakhon Phanom Province" is a qualitative study. Its objective is to examine the artistic and literary elements depicted in the murals of Wat Pho Kham and Wat Phutthasima in Nakhon Phanom Province. The target groups include local scholars, abbots, and community leaders in the Ban Fang Daeng and Ban Nam Kam areas. Field data were collected using surveys and unstructured interviews. The findings were categorized and analyzed. The results show that in terms of artistic elements, the murals at Wat Pho Kham are arranged symmetrically and in an orderly manner, with paintings limited to the interior walls. In contrast, the murals at Wat Phutthasima are arranged more diffusely, with paintings on both the interior and exterior walls of the ordination hall (sim). Regarding literary elements, both temples emphasize depictions of Buddhist history (Phra Phuttha Prawat), while depictions of Jataka tales and local folklore differ between the two. Notably, the main local folklore story Suriyawong has not been previously depicted in murals in the Isan region.

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