Rare manuscript found in France
An original scripture of Trai Phoom Phra Ruang, a version published during the Ayuthaya period (13501767) relying on a historic tale describing about the Earth, Heaven and Hell composed originally in 1345 during the Sukhothai Kingdom, is in custody of the
The discovery has altered Thai historians' belief that there were only pictorial documents about the Trai Phoom Phra Ruang tale made during Ayutthaya but the scripture found in the French national archive proved otherwise. The scripture has been copied with permission of the Paris archieve and been currently studied by Thai experts.
Trai Phoom Phra Ruang was composed at intiative of King Phaya Lithai, or Phra Maha Thammaracha I, who reigned between (13471368). It depicts three afterlife Lands where people go to. Hell is part of the first Land which includes Earth, Heaven is the second and Brahma is the third. People are reborn until they give up all their passions, and stay as eternal being in Nirvana.
The one found in Paris also contains a story "Phra Malai" - an Arhat Buddhist monk who roams between the three Lands and tells of good or bad karmas of people, in addition to the Trai Phoom Phra Ruang tale.
A total of 1,000 copies of the scripture in Paris will be made and given to schools and libraries, in addition to electronic downloadable version which will be posted online.
