This folded book manuscript, comprises Pali text in Khom script and illustrations of the Ten Birth Tales (Thostsachat), the last ten of 550 tales of the previous lives of the Buddha before his birth as Prince Gautama. The illustrations are presented in pairs on each side of the text, on each page. The text however typically refers to the Abidhamma section of Buddhist scriptures, which deals with psychological and philosophical subject matter. The earliest surviving illustrated manuscripts date to the seventeenth century, whilst later texts generally survive in greater numbers. Manuscripts were produced as handbooks for Buddhist monks and novices, and to instruct lay people during religious ceremonies. Their production was considered a great act of merit-making.
