Celestials and Time in Mural Painting of the Ubosot of Ratchanaddaram Temple

Abstract

Study of mural of the Ubosot of Ratchanaddaram temple is an exploration of story recorded which is related to believes, knowledge and social consideration. The mural painting presents a style that had been changed from early Rattanakosin period characteristic. Objectives of study are to understand the concepts changing such as realistic murals along with the use of astronomical knowledge in the frescoes.  Methodology of study by using an exploratory study method with photography, fieldwork to analyze the composition by referring to literature review and related concepts.

From the study, it was found that the murals of the Ubosot of Ratchanaddaram temple, the concept of perceiving time, season played the importance role of the composition. In lunar calendar, a year begins with April or Aries from the zodiac dividing on the east and west walls. The study of the arrangement of the celestials in the mural paintings was clearly consistent with the arrangement of the 8 constellations in the Pichaisongkhram textbook, namely Asawani, Paranee, Rohini, Makha, Purawaphasakuni, Chit, Chaye, Sattha and Moola. Moreover there was a similar arrangement, namely Maruksira, Punawasut and Thanitha. However, the study showed no relationship in arrangement with real constellations in the sky. Instead, it sees a focus on the brightest main stars in the constellation namely Aldebaren as Rohini, Betelgeuse as Artra. Obviously, scientific belief including the expression of boundless dimensions that creates an infinity of interior space by murals which originated in the reign of King Rama IV, knowledge of astronomy combined with the original belief influenced by India. However, the study is still lacked of evidence in relationship of stars in the Pichai Warfare textbooks to real constellations, to confirm and expand the information obtained from the comparison with the constellations from the mural painting for the benefit of further study.