Administrative Structure of Thai Sangha Organization under the Monarchy and Politics

Abstract

Thai Sangha influenced the conceptions of kingship in various ways such as paradigmatic dhammaraja, the righteous monarch, who governs justly and righteously as the embodiment of the ten royal virtues.  It is the symbol of monarchy in Southeast Asia. With royal virtues, king is needed for protection and for the sake of honor and security. Thus Buddhist kingship is essentially based on the concept of righteousness. It is understood that under the reign of Buddhist king in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and also Thailand, Sangha and people live life peacefully. Kings of Buddhist kingdoms in Southeast Asia absorbed the concept of ideal ruler, Dhammaraja  as part of their own traditions. They realized that the maintenance of their power rested on adherence to the Dhamma. It is necessary for the kings to keep Dhamma alive by supporting the Sangha which perpetuated and disseminated Dhamma. By patronizing and supervising the Sangha, the kings preserved the Dhamma, and in doing so, duty as righteous king could be fulfilled. It is the close relationship between the development of Buddhism in the kingdom and the patronage of the faith by Buddhist kings.