Lot comprised of four Thai temple rubbings on rice paper. Illustrations include (L to R) a male Kinnaree, a male Apsara with ranat ek (Thai xylophone), a female apsara playing a taiko drum on a stand, and (BELOW) an elephant.

Size: 22 x 12 in. 
#2522 #9 . 

In the Ramakien, one of Thailand’s national epics (and their version of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana) the creation myth that originated with Hinduism is given a Buddhist context. Most of the temples throughout Thailand are adorned with imagery from it, which is fortunate given that the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767 resulted in nearly all written versions of the story being lost. While the main story is similar to that of the Dasaratha Nataka, differences in some tales still prevail. Many other aspects were transposed into a Thai context, such as the clothes, weapons, topography, and elements of nature, as well as representations of various spirits which complement beliefs derived from Thai animism. Among the numerous celestial and supernatural beings in the story are Apsaras, equivalent to fairies or nymphs, and Kinnaree, half-human/half-bird beings with fierce devotion to one another and a taste for human blood. The elephant, revered in every single culture in Southeast Asia, was often the chariot of the gods, and sometimes was a personification of the gods as well, imbued with knowledge and power to carry out their will. The rubbings of temple walls were considered good luck charms, and primarily taken prior to the 1970s, when monks began to realize the damage being done to centuries-old structures from constant rubbing. As such, their value has increased as the nation attempts to prevent people from further destroying these architectural marvels.

Small markings on two papers.