An Analytical Study of Aesthetics in the Thirty-Eight Maṅgala Sutta Paintings: A Case Study of Wat Suthiwararam

Abstract

This research article has three objectives: 1) to study aesthetic concepts, 2) to examine the Thirty-Eight Maṅgala Sutta Paintings at Wat Suthiwararam, and 3) to propose the aesthetic values that appear in the Thirty-Eight Maṅgala Sutta Paintings. The study employed a qualitative research methodology. The tools used for data collection include: (1) the review of primary and secondary sources such as documents, books, and academic texts; (2) field surveys and data collection conducted at the research site; (3) interviews with experts in religion, philosophy, and art; and (4) data analysis to synthesize and establish the body of knowledge derived from the study. The results show that aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that discusses the values of beauty, aesthetic experience, and artistic significance. Three major art theories are considered: the theory of represent (imitation), the theory of form, and the theory of expression, as well as three perspectives on beauty: subjectivism, objectivism, and relativism. frameworks help deepen the analysis and interpretation of the Thirty-Eight Maṅgala Sutta Paintings. The murals, located on the ceiling of the first floor of the ordination hall at Wat Suthiwararam, were created using the traditional Thai technique of gilded lacquer on wooden panels. They symbolically represent the Thirty-Eight Auspicious Blessings of Buddhism through depictions of people, animals, objects, and gestures that convey auspicious meanings in accordance with Buddhist principles. When considered through aesthetic theories, the murals embody subjective value through the varied perceptions of viewers, objective value through their structural beauty and artistic composition, and relative value through their relevance to the Thai cultural context and Theravāda Buddhist beliefs. Therefore, the beauty of these paintings can be described as pluralistic aesthetics, combining artistic, emotional, and cultural dimensions. They are not merely artistic works in terms of form but also serve as a medium connecting aesthetics, religion, and spirituality. The beauty they embody not only provides aesthetic experience but also inspires viewers to live in accordance with Buddhist principles, bringing auspiciousness at both individual and societal levels.