Skip to main content

Secondary sourceDocument19th century

Life of the Buddha

19th century

A 19th-century Burmese illustrated folding book telling scenes from the Buddha's life, from the conversion of the Sakyas to the story of Prince Nanda.

An illustrated retelling of the Buddha's life story, made many centuries after he lived, in Burmese Buddhist tradition.

Ask Buddha about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
A photo of the cover board of a folding book with a red lacquered background and gold floral scrollwork, with a vertical green panel bearing gold Burmese script lettering in the center.
Life of the Buddha, folding book (parabaik), 19th century, Myanmar. Chester Beatty, Ireland.

About this source

What it is

This is a folding book, known as a parabaik, made in 19th-century Myanmar (Burma) by an unknown maker. It is painted in ink, colours and gold on paper and has twelve openings showing scenes from the life of the Buddha, including the conversion of the Sakyas and the story of Prince Nanda and his bride. It is held by the Chester Beatty library in Ireland.

Why it matters

This object shows how, long after the Buddha's lifetime, Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia continued to retell and illustrate his life story using local art forms. The richly decorated cover, with lacquer and gold scrollwork and Burmese script, reflects the importance placed on preserving and honouring these stories through craftsmanship.

Look closer

  • Why might artists choose to tell the Buddha's life through a sequence of pictures rather than only text?
  • What does the decoration of the cover suggest about how this book was valued?
  • What might be left out or simplified when a whole life is told in just twelve scenes?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Buddha on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Buddha sources

Meet the AI Buddha →
A large upright marble slab with a red-painted rim and a tablet-shaped top, inscribed with dense Burmese script in many lines. A framed title panel sits at the top, and paper inscriptions are on the wall behind it in a stone-walled alcove.Book

Secondary source

Dhammapada

Attributed to the Buddha · c. 3rd century BCE compilation

Painted leaf of a palm-leaf or wooden-board style manuscript showing a seated, yellow-faced Buddha in red robes in meditation pose, flanked by two small figures, with black and red borders and script at the sides.Painting

Secondary source

Buddha in Dhyana, Perfection of Wisdom Sutra Manuscript

1074

Grey stone sculpture of the head of a Buddha with tightly curled wavy hair in a high topknot, downcast eyes, a small raised dot on the forehead, and a broken neck base. Photographed against a pale background.Sculpture

Secondary source

Head of the Buddha, Gandhara style

Diagram of the Tipiṭaka structure. Top box TIPIṬAKA branches into three: Vinayapiṭaka (Suttavibhaṅga, Khandhaka, Parivāra), Suttapiṭaka (five Nikāyas including Khuddakanikāya), and Abhidhammapiṭaka (seven books). Khuddakanikāya's fifteen texts are listed below.Book

Secondary source

Pali Canon (Tipitaka)

Early Buddhist sangha · oral from 5th century BCE; written c. 29 BCE

A framed Tibetan scroll painting (thangka) hung on blue dragon-patterned silk brocade with a dark green silk top. A red field with gold-outlined scenes surrounds a central seated golden Buddha holding a bowl, flanked by standing figures and small seated Buddhas.Painting

Secondary source

The Life of the Buddha Shakyamuni

Unknown Tibetan painter

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Buddha now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions