Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia

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The Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia (Pali: Sangharāja; Khmer: សម្តេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ, pronounced [sɑmdac preah sɑŋ riec]) is the effective leader of the Buddhist community in Cambodia.

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[edit] History

Between 1855 and 1981, there were two Supreme Patriarchs in Cambodia: one for the Cambodian branch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, and one for the Maha Nikaya. In 1981, under the supervision of the Vietnamese-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea, Venerable Tep Vong was elected Supreme Patriarch of a new, unified Sangha modeled on the Vietnamese Sangha.[1]

After the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, King Norodom Sihanouk again appointed a Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya: Venerable Bour Kry.[2] Today, the two orders are each headed by their own patriarch, unlike in Thailand where there is only a single Supreme Patriarch over both orders. The Cambodian constitution gives a seat on the Throne Council to each Supreme Patriarch of the two orders, thus giving each a say in the selection of the King.

In 2006, Tep Vong was elevated to the status of Great Supreme Patriarch.[3] Venerable Non Nget was subsequently elevated to Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya. Tep Vong is the first monk in 150 years to hold the title of Great Supreme Patriarch.[3]

[edit] Partial list of Cambodian patriarchs

  • Dien (1823-1913) (Maha Nikaya)
  • Saukonn Pan (1855-1894) (Dhammayuttika Nikaya)[4][5]
  • Choun Nath (1948-1969) (Maha Nikaya)[6]
  • Huot Tat (1969-1975) (Maha Nikaya)[6]
  • Ghosananda (1988-2007) (Maha Nikaya)[7]
  • Tep Vong (1981 - present) (Unified Sangha 1981-1991, Maha Nikaya 1991-2006, Grand Supreme Patriarch 2006 - present)
  • Bour Kry (1991 - present) (Dhammayuttika Nikaya)
  • Non Nget (2006 - present) (Maha Nikaya)

[edit] Titles

The titles for the Cambodian Supreme Patriarchs are derived from Pali. The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sumedhādhipati (Khmer: សម្តេច ព្រះ សុមេធាធិបតី); sumedhādhipati means 'wise lord'. In letters with King-Father Sihanouk, the following title is used for the Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong: Samdech Preah Agga Mahā Sangharājādhipati (Khmer: សម្តេច ព្រះ​ អគ្គមហាសង្ឃរាជាធិបតី); which is translated as 'foremost great supreme patriarch leader'.[8]

The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sugandhādhipati (Khmer: សម្តេច ព្រះ សុគន្ធាធិបតី); sugandhādhipati means 'fragrant lord'. While King-Father Sihanouk includes this full title in his letters to the Dhammayuttika Supreme Patriarch Bour Kry, the latter simply uses the title Samdech Preah Sangharāja, or 'Supreme Patriarch'.[8] The following more elaborate term is used on King Norodom Sihamoni's website: Samdech Preah Aphisokunthea (Abhisugandha) Mohasangreacheathipadey (Mahāsangharājādhipati) (Khmer: សម្តេច ព្រះ អភិសុគន្ធា មហាសង្ឃរាជាធិបតី); this title means 'wholly fragrant, great supreme patriarch leader'.[9]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ (Harris 2001, p. 75)
  2. ^ (Harris 2001, p. 77)
  3. ^ a b Cambodia Daily article on KI Media
  4. ^ (Harris 2001, p. 83)
  5. ^ (Keyes 1994)
  6. ^ a b (Harris 2001, p. 78)
  7. ^ In 1988, Maha Ghosananda was elected Supreme Patriarch by a group of exiled monks in Paris. During this same period, Tep Vong held the same office in the unified Cambodian sangha. After 1991, Tep Vong was recognized as head of the Maha Nikaya in Cambodia. (Harris 2001, p. 70)
  8. ^ a b Website of Norodom Sihanouk
  9. ^ Website of King Norodom Sihamoni

[edit] References

  • Harris, Ian C. (August 2001), “Sangha Groupings in Cambodia”, Buddhist Studies Review (UK Association for Buddhist Studies) 18 (I): 65–72 
  • Harris, Ian C. (2005), Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai`i Press 
  • Keyes, Charles F. (1994), “Communist Revolution and the Buddhist Past in Cambodia”, Asian Visions of Authority: Religion and the Modern States of East and Southeast Asia, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai`i Press, pp. 43-73 

[edit] See also

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