(17 Aug 2026) The use of flowers and trees in Thai manuscript art reflects the religious and cultural significance of nature in Thai Buddhism and everyday life. The vibrant colours and detailed designs of floral elements contribute to the overall harmony and elegance of the manuscripts. Common motifs include lotus flowers, which symbolise enlightenment and…
(10 Mar 2023) Since 2004, the Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) has helped to preserve cultural heritage and to make it available globally to as wide an audience as possible. To achieve this, grants are provided to digitise and document archives that are at risk of loss or decay, and which are located in countries where…
(28 June 2018) BDRC, with the generous support of the Khyentse Foundation, has been working with the Fragile Palm Leaves Foundation, Thailand, since 2016 to preserve their massive collection of palm leaf Buddhist manuscripts. These manuscripts are particularly important as primary sources for the scholarly study of Burmese and Theravāda Buddhism, Pali philology, history, and…
(17 October 2016) The Library’s Thai collection contains more than 6,000 titles of printed books, pamphlets and grey literature in Thai language, dating from the mid-19th century onwards. Due to a generous gift by Christian missionaries of about 100 books and pamphlets, the earliest period of printing in Thailand, from ca.1840-1890, is well represented, including…
(7 March 2016, SEALG) The University of Pennsylvania and National Library of Laos have launched the Digital Library of Northern Thai Manuscripts as a resource for the study of traditional literature from this region. At present, the digital library contains images of over 4,200 manuscripts which can be searched and viewed online or freely downloaded, and…
(13 April 2015) Between the 13th and 15th April the Water Festival, locally known as Songkran or New Year Festival, takes place in Thailand. It is one of the most colourful and merriest festivals in the entire region since it is observed in neighbouring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia as well. Tai peoples living in the…