Thai Art and Culture: Historic Manuscripts from Western Collections. Thai manuscripts were often lavishly illustrated with exquisite depictions of Buddhist tales and cosmology, and were traditionally used as preaching books. Other non-religious manuscripts dealt with fortune-telling, medical treatments and animals important in Thai culture. In this fascinating new study, fully illustrated in colour throughout, Ginsburg portrays not only the Thai Buddhist religion and imagery that is a familiar facet of life in Thailand, but also the history of its extensive trading relations with the West, crucial to a full understanding and appreciation of its art and culture.