A signifiant but little-known collection of rare 18th and 19th century Thai Buddhist manuscripts has gone on display in the renowned Chester Beatty Library in the Irish capital Dublin, in an ongoing exhibition titled Thai Buddhist Tales: Stories along the Path to Enlightenment.

The collection of intricately and colorfully illustrated folding books, curated by Laura Muldowney, researcher of the museum’s East Asian collection, originally served a range of different purposes in Thai Buddhist monasteries and at royal and local courts. Because they were used by Buddhist monks and novices as teaching aids and for chanting during ceremonies, commissioning such books after the death of a family member and then donating them to a temple, was regarded as an especially meritorious act of devotion by lay Buddhists, both for the donor and the deceased.

“Presented as colorful illustrations alongside sacred texts, some of the most popular stories found within Thai Buddhist manuscripts are the birth tales of the Buddha and the legend of the monk Phra Malai,” Chester Beatty said of the exhibition. “From moral tales to noble quests, these pictures from the path to enlightenment offer an enchanting introduction to Thailand’s rich Buddhist heritage and its most cherished stories.” (Chester Beatty)

The texts on display include excerpts from the Jatakas, tales of the historical Buddha’s previous incarnations as he gained the attributes necessary to attain enlightenment, which are presented as paired images on either side of the text. The library also has several examples of the much rarer books relating the life of the Buddha before and after his enlightenment.