Nāi Phrā Takā Tangke Suai, inhabiting the area of the Chang Phüak Gate, Chiang Mai,
Subject matter:
Didactics
Copyist:
Anonymous
Copying date in native date:
9th (waning) 3rd (lunar) Cūḷasakarāja 1258
Copying date in Gregorian:
1897 February 26
Script:
Shan; Burmese
Writing support:
Mulberry paper – Leporello format
Watermark?:
No
Countermark?:
No
Manuscript cover?:
Yes
Binding?:
No
Manuscript cover dimension:
17 x 41 cm
Manuscript paper dimension:
17 x 41 cm
Text block dimension:
15 x 34 cm
Number of pages:
285 pages
Rubrication?:
No
Illumination?:
No
Illustration?:
Yes
Manuscript condition:
Poor
Description of manuscript content:
This manuscript pertains to the teaching of proper behaviours for household laypeople. They are supposed to earn from legal right career without harming others by selling the following five kinds of products: weapons, human, animals, intoxicants, and poisons. The negative karma [of selling the five things] results in punishment in the hells, as the case of what Phra Nārada witnessed. He went to the hells and saw a giant live in a beautiful castle but eat his own body. Phra Nārada asked the giant about his karma. He explained that the beautiful castle was rewarded through his meritorious habits of merit-making and listening to the Dhamma, but the regularity of feeding of his own body resulted from killing and selling animals.
Colophon:
The copying of this Gihicārīta manuscript ends in CS 1258, on the ninth day of the waning moon in the third lunar month, a Monday, at the time of the sunrise, at 8:00. May Phrā Takā Tangke Suai gain merit as expected and be free from the Cycle of Rebirths, namely Nibbāna attainment.
Remark: Friday, 26 February 1897 (1258 Magha 24)
Other notes:
The front cover and the back cover are decorated with black lacquer and gilded with gold leaves. The corner of the covers is slightly damaged by rats, so the content is by insects.
(The inner flyleaf)
This manuscript entitled Gihicārīta was sponsored by Phrā Takā Tangke Suai, inhabiting the area of the Chang Phüak Gate, Chiang Mai, to sustain the Teachings of the Buddha. May we be happy in every next life and reach Nibbāna.