Ecclesiastical peerage of Thailand

Ecclesiastical peers holding their letters of appointment and fans of rank. Letters of appointment and a fan of rank for ecclesiastical peers. A monk parades his letter of appointment and fan of rank throughout the town of Uttaradit.

Ecclesiastical peerages (Thai: สมณศักดิ์; RTGS: samanasak; literally "ecclesiastical dignity") have traditionally been given to ordained members of the Thai sangha, the community of the Buddhist monks of Thailand.

Each ecclesiastical peer holds a rank (Thai: ยศ; RTGS: yot) and a title (Thai: ราชทินนาม; RTGS: ratchathinnanam). For example, Phra Dharma Kośācārya (Thai: พระธรรมโกศาจารย์; RTGS: Phra Tham Kosachan) is the title of a monk holding the rank of phra rachakhana (Thai: พระราชาคณะ) in the dharma class. In addition to an ecclesiastical peerage, a monk may also be known by a layname (name as a layperson) and a dharmic name.

Holders of certain ranks are given fans of rank [th] (Thai: พัดยศ; RTGS: phat yot).

## History

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This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: The Sangha Council can no longer choose its own members per 2018 law, which may also affect peerage. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2019)

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The custom of giving peerages to Buddhist priests originated in Sri Lanka[1][2] and is believed to have been practiced in Thailand since the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom, during which the Sri Lanka's sect of Buddhism known as Laṅkāvaṃśa (Thai: ลังกาวงศ์) was prevalent in the region and it appears that Srī Śraddhā (Thai: ศรีศรัทธา; RTGS: Si Sattha), a nephew of King Pha Mueang, a local leader at that time, even travelled to the isle of Sri Lanka where he was ordained as a priest and was given a peerage.[1] Stone inscriptions of that time mention such ecclesiastical titles as Mahāthēra (Thai: มหาเถร; RTGS: Mahathen) and Mahāsvāmī (Thai: มหาสวามี; RTGS: Mahasawami).[1]

During the reign of King Mahathammaracha II of Sukhothai, the Buddhist community of Sukhothai was divided into two sects: araṇyavāsī (Thai: อรัญวาสี; RTGS: aranyawasi; literally "forest dwellers") and gāmavāsī (Thai: คามวาสี; RTGS: khammawasi; literally "village dwellers"). The patriarchs of both sects held the title Mahāthēra.[1]

In the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the gāmavāsī sect was again divided into two subsects: the northern sect (Thai: หนเหนือ) and the southern sect (Thai: หนใต้). The patriarchs of the northern sect were styled Phra Vanaratna (Thai: พระวันรัตน์; RTGS: Phra Wannarat) or Phra Banaratna (Thai: พระพนรัตน์; RTGS: Phra Phonnarat) and those of the southern sect were styled Phra Buddhaghoṣācārya (Thai: พระพุทธโฆษาจารย์; RTGS: Phra Phutthakhosachan), whilst the patriarchs of the araṇyavāsī sect were styled Phra Buddhācārya (Thai: พระพุทธาจารย์; RTGS: Phra Phutthachan).[1] It is also believed that senior monks had been appointed by the monarch of Ayuthaya as supreme patriarchs in charge of the entire monastic community.[1]

In the subsequent kingdoms of Thon Buri and Rattanakosin, the same custom was practiced until the enactment of the Sangha Administration Statute 1902 (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติลักษณปกครองคณะสงฆ์ รัตนโกสินทรศก ๑๒๑) by King Rama V, which established a Sangha Supreme Council to nominate monks to the monarch to be appointed to peerages.[1][3] This is upheld in the present Sangha Act 1962 (Thai: พระราชบัญญัติคณะสงฆ์ พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๕),[1] except the appointment of the supreme patriarch which has been amended in January 2017 to solely be at the monarch's pleasure in line with the previous tradition.[4]

## Ranks and titles

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At present, the ranks and titles given to members of the Thai sangha are as follows (from highest to lowest):[1]

### Supreme patriarch

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Main article: Supreme Patriarch of Thailand

Supreme patriarch (Thai: สมเด็จพระสังฆราช; RTGS: somdet phra sangkharat) is the highest rank in the Thai sangha. A supreme patriarch who is a member of the royal family is called somdet phra sangkharat chao (Thai: สมเด็จพระสังฆราชเจ้า), whilst one who is a commoner is merely called somdet phra sangkharat.

At present, all the supreme patriarchs are appointed by the monarch of Thailand and are titled Ariyavaṃśāgatañāṇa (Thai: อริยวงศาคตญาณ; RTGS: Ariyawongsakhatayan), prefixed by the honorific Somdet Phra (Thai: สมเด็จพระ).[1]

### Somdet phra rachakhana

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Somdet phra rachakhana (Thai: สมเด็จพระราชาคณะ) is the second highest rank in the Thai sangha after the supreme patriarch. At present, somdet phra rachakhana are appointed by the monarch of Thailand and there can only be eight somdet phra rachakhana: four from the Mahā Nikāya sect and the other four from the Dhammayuttika Nikāya sect.[1]

The titles for somdet phra rachakhana, each prefixed by the honorific Somdet Phra (Thai: สมเด็จพระ), are as follows:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Ariyavaṃśāgatañāṇa | อริยวงศาคตญาณ  | Ariyawongsakhatayan
Buḍhācārya | พุฒาจารย์  | Phuthachan
Buddhaghoṣācārya | พุทธโฆษาจารย์  | Phutthakhosachan
Buddhajinavaṃṥa | พุทธชินวงศ์  | Phutthachinnawong
Buddhapābacanapatī | พุทธปาพจนบดี  | Phutthapaphotchanabodi
Dhīrañāṇamunī | ธีรญาณมุนี  | Thirayanamuni
Mahādhīrācārya | มหาธีราจารย์  | Mahathirachan
Mahāmunīvaṃṥa | มหามุนีวงศ์  | Mahamuniwong
Mahārajamaṇgalācārya | มหารัชมังคลาจารย์  | Maharatchamangkhalachan
Mahāvīravaṃṥa | มหาวีรวงศ์  | Mahawirawong
Ñāṇasaṃvara | ญาณสังวร  | Yanasangwon
Ñāṇavarottama | ญาณวโรดม  | Yanawarodom
Vajirañāṇavaṃṥa | วชิรญาณวงศ์  | Wachirayanawong
Vanarata | วันรัต  | Wannarat

### Phra rachakhana

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Phra rachakhana (Thai: พระราชาคณะ) is the third highest rank in the Thai sangha, divided into two classes: special (Thai: พิเศษ) and ordinary (Thai: สามัญ).

At present, phra rachakhana are appointed by the monarch of Thailand, except those in the saman yok group of the ordinary class who are appointed by the supreme patriarch.[1]

The title chao khun (Thai: เจ้าคุณ) is often used colloquially for monks with the rank of phra rachakhana.[5]

#### Special classes

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There are four special classes:

* Chao khana rong (Thai: เจ้าคณะรอง): 13 posts available for the Mahā Nikāya sect and 7 for the Dhammayuttika Nikāya sect, being 20 in total.[1] Members of this class have the honorific Phra (Thai: พระ) prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Brahma Guṇābharaṇa | พระพรหมคุณาภรณ์  | Phra Phrom Khunaphon
Phra Brahma Munī | พระพรหมมุนี  | Phra Phrom Muni
Phra Śāsanasobhaṇa | พระศาสนโสภณ  | Phra Satsanasophon
Phra Sudharmādhipatī | พระสุธรรมาธิบดี  | Phra Suthammathibodi

* Dharma (Thai: ธรรม; RTGS: tham): 30 posts available for Mahā Nikāya and 15 for Dhammayuttika Nikāya, being 45 in total.[1] Members of this class have the honorific Phra Dharma (Thai: พระธรรม; RTGS: Phra Tham) prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Dharma Kośācārya | พระธรรมโกศาจารย์  | Phra Tham Kosachan
Phra Dharma Rājānuvatra | พระธรรมราชานุวัตร  | Phra Tham Rachanuwat
Phra Dharma Śīlācārya | พระธรรมศีลาจารย์  | Phra Tham Silachan
Phra Dharma Visuddhimaṇgala | พระธรรมวิสุทธิมงคล  | Phra Tham Wisutthimongkhon

* Dēba (Thai: เทพ; RTGS: thep): 56 posts available for Mahā Nikāya and 30 for Dhammayuttika Nikāya, being 86 in total.[1] Members of this class have the honorific Phra Dēba (Thai: พระเทพ; RTGS: Phra Thep) prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Dēba Guṇādhāra | พระเทพคุณาธาร  | Phra Thep Khunathan
Phra Dēba Ñāṇamaṇgala | พระเทพญาณมงคล  | Phra Thep Yanamongkhon
Phra Dēba Siddhācārya | พระเทพสิทธาจารย์  | Phra Thep Sitthachan
Phra Dēba Vidyāgama | พระเทพวิทยาคม  | Phra Thep Witthayakhom

* Rāja (Thai: ราช; RTGS: rat): 135 posts available for Mahā Nikāya and 54 for Dhammayuttika Nikāya, being 189 in total.[1] Members of this class have the honorific Phra Rāja (Thai: พระราช; RTGS: Phra Rat) prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Rāja Bhāvanavikrama | พระราชภาวนาวิกรม  | Phra Rat Phawanawikrom
Phra Rāja Dharmanidēśa | พระราชธรรมนิเทศ  | Phra Rat Thammanithet
Phra Rāja Sumēdhācārya | พระราชสุเมธาจารย์  | Phra Rat Sumethachan
Phra Rāja Visuddhiprajānātha | พระราชวิสุทธิประชานาถ  | Phra Rat Wisut Prachanat

#### Ordinary class

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There are 477 posts available in the ordinary class, with 348 for Mahā Nikāya and 129 for Dhammayuttika Nikāya.[1]

Members of this class have the honorific Phra (Thai: พระ) prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Cullanāyaka | พระจุลนายก  | Phra Chunlanayok
Phra Ñāṇavisāla Thēra | พระญาณวิสาลเถร  | Phra Yanawisan Thera
Phra Maṇgala Sundara | พระมงคลสุนทร  | Phra Mongkhon Sunthon
Phra Siddhikāra Kośala | พระสิทธิการโกศล  | Phra Sitthikan Koson

Phra rachakhana in the ordinary class are also divided into four groups:[1]

* Parian (Thai: เปรียญ)
* Parian-equivalent (Thai: เทียบเปรียญ)
* Vipassanā (Thai: วิปัสสนา; RTGS: wipatsana)
* Saman yok (Thai: สามัญยก)

### Phra khru

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Phra khru (Thai: พระครู) is the lowest rank in the Thai sangha, divided into three classes:[1]

* Sanyabat (Thai: สัญญาบัตร): appointed by the monarch of Thailand in an unlimited number.
* Thananukrom (Thai: ฐานานุกรม): appointed by special-class phra rachakhana in the number specified in the letter of appointment of each phra rachakhana.
* Prathuan (Thai: ประทวน): appointed by the Thai sangha in an unlimited number.

Holders of this rank have the honorific Phra Khru prefixed to their titles, such as:

Title  | In Thai

|

Vernacular  | RTGS romanised
Phra Khru Ñāṇasāgara | พระครูญาณสาคร  | Phra Khru Yanasakhon
Phra Khru Paññā Vuḍḍhi Sundara | พระครูปัญญาวุฒิสุนทร  | Phra Khru Panya Wut Sunthon
Phra Khru Pavara Dharmakicca | พระครูบวรธรรมกิจ  | Phra Khru Bowon Thammakit
Phra Khru Vimala Guṇākara | พระครูวิมลคุณากร  | Phra Khru Wimon Khunakon

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s พัดยศและสมณศักดิ์ [Fans of rank and ecclesiastical titles]. Thai Encyclopaedia for Youth (in Thai). Archived from the original on 6 March 2017.
2. ^ Ngamchitharoen, Watchara (2014). "Ecclesiastic Titles (Samaṇasatti): Advantages and Problems". The Chulalongkorn Journal of Buddhist Studies. 8: 1–43.
3. ^ Ferguson, John P.; Ramitanondh, Shalardchai (1976). "Monks and Hierarchy in Northern Thailand" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 64 (1): 104–150.
4. ^ พระราชบัญญัติคณะสงฆ์ (ฉบับที่ ๓) พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๐ [Sangha Act (No. 3), 2560 B.E.] (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 134 (2a). 6 January 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2017.
5. ^ Jackson, Peter A. (1989). Buddhism, Legitimation, and Conflict: The Political Functions of Urban Thai Buddhism. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 17\. ISBN 981-3035-21-8.