19th-century Ramayana manuscript (Ramakien) Thailand 🇹🇭

 

The Ramayana is a Sanskrit language Hindu epic attributed to Valmiki, whose first redaction is dated between 5th-century to 4th-century BCE. The text has been popular on the Indian subcontinent since ancient times. It arrived in southeast Asia about mid-1st-millennium CE and has been popular ever since as evidenced by reliefs on major temples and in manuscripts. It has influenced both literary and performance arts in many southeast Asia countries. The story has been adapted and revised to some extent to suit regional cultures and audiences.

The above photo is from a 19th-century Thai manuscript of Ramakien. The Rama story arrived in Thailand probably through Khmer Hindu people in 1st-millennium Cambodia. The evidence of its influence is clear by the 13th-century art and literary works, though the story was creatively adapted by Thai royal authors, to mimic the dress, culture, architecture, and local preferences. The story has been highly influential, with one of the historic capitals of the Thailand dynasty being named as Ayutthaya. Even in the contemporary times, the head of state (king) of Thailand is called Rama, with Rama I's rule spanning 1785-1809 CE.

The photo above is of a 2D artwork from the text that was itself authored more than 2,000 years ago, and a manuscript that was acquired in the 19th-century. Therefore Wikimedia Commons PD-Art licensing guidelines apply. Any rights I have as a photographer is herewith donated to Wikimedia Commons under CC 4.0 license.