Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia (Pali
: Sangharāja; Khmer
: សម្តេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ, pronounced sɑmdac preah sɑŋ riec) is the effective leader of the Buddhist community in Cambodia
.
. 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.
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
. 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. 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.
. The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sumedhādhipati ; 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 ; which is translated as 'foremost great supreme patriarch leader'.
The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya is Samdech Preah Aphiserei Sukonthea Mohasangreacheathipadei (Abhisirī Sugandhā Mahāsangharājādhipati) . This title means 'Of Higher Merit and Pure Virtue, Great Supreme Patriarch Leader'. In letters with King-Father Sihanouk, an abbreviated title is used in the valediction: Samdech Preah Sangreach .'
Páli
- External links :* *...
: Sangharāja; Khmer
Khmer language
Khmer , or Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language , with speakers in the tens of millions. Khmer has been considerably influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious...
: សម្តេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ, pronounced sɑmdac preah sɑŋ riec) is the effective leader of the Buddhist community in Cambodia
Buddhism in Cambodia
The kind of Buddhism practiced in Cambodia is called Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century CE, with some sources placing its origin as early as the 3rd century BCE...
.
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 NikayaMaha Nikaya
"Maha Nikaya" refers to one of the two principal sects of modern Thai Buddhism. The other principle sect is Dhammayuttika Nikaya...
. In 1981, under the supervision of the Vietnamese-backed People's Republic of Kampuchea, Venerable Tep Vong
Tep Vong
Tep Vong is a Cambodian Buddhist monk, currently the Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia. He was the youngest of seven senior monks re-ordained under Vietnamese supervision in 1979 in order to provide a core leadership group for the re-establishment of the Cambodian sangha, which had been nearly...
was elected Supreme Patriarch of a new, unified Sangha modeled on the Vietnamese Sangha.
After the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, King Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
again appointed a Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya: Venerable Bour Kry
Bour Kry
Samdech Preah Sanghareach Bour Kry is the seventh and current Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika order of Cambodia.-Early life:...
. Today, the two orders are each headed by their own patriarch, unlike in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where there is only a single Supreme Patriarch
Supreme Patriarch of Thailand
The Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. The position is formally appointed by the King of Thailand, although the actual selection is made by senior clergymen...
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. 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.
Partial list of Cambodian patriarchs
- Dien (1823–1913) (Maha Nikaya)
- Saukonn Pan (1855–1894) (Dhammayuttika Nikaya)
- Choun NathChoun NathSamdech Sangha Raja Jhotañano Chuon Nath is the late Supreme Patriarch Kana Mahanikaya of Cambodia. Amongst his achievements is his effort in conservation of the Khmer language in the form of the Khmer dictionary...
(1948–1969) (Maha Nikaya) - Huot Tat (1969–1975) (Maha Nikaya)
- GhosanandaPreah Maha GhosanandaMaha Ghosananda, , was a highly revered Cambodian Buddhist monk in the Theravada tradition, who served as the Patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism during the Khmer Rouge period and post-communist transition period of Cambodian history...
(1988–2007) (Maha Nikaya) - Tep VongTep VongTep Vong is a Cambodian Buddhist monk, currently the Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia. He was the youngest of seven senior monks re-ordained under Vietnamese supervision in 1979 in order to provide a core leadership group for the re-establishment of the Cambodian sangha, which had been nearly...
(1981–present) (Unified Sangha 1981-1991, Maha Nikaya 1991-2006, Grand Supreme Patriarch 2006–present) - Bour KryBour KrySamdech Preah Sanghareach Bour Kry is the seventh and current Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika order of Cambodia.-Early life:...
(1991–present) (Dhammayuttika Nikaya) - Non Nget (2006–present) (Maha Nikaya)
Titles
The titles for the Cambodian Supreme Patriarchs are derived from PaliPáli
- External links :* *...
. The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Maha Nikaya is Samdech Preah Sumedhādhipati ; 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 ; which is translated as 'foremost great supreme patriarch leader'.
The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya is Samdech Preah Aphiserei Sukonthea Mohasangreacheathipadei (Abhisirī Sugandhā Mahāsangharājādhipati) . This title means 'Of Higher Merit and Pure Virtue, Great Supreme Patriarch Leader'. In letters with King-Father Sihanouk, an abbreviated title is used in the valediction: Samdech Preah Sangreach .'
See also
- Buddhism in CambodiaBuddhism in CambodiaThe kind of Buddhism practiced in Cambodia is called Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century CE, with some sources placing its origin as early as the 3rd century BCE...
- SangharajaSangharajaSangharaja is the title given in many Theravada Buddhist countries to a senior monk who is the titular head either of a monastic fraternity , or of the Sangha throughout the country...
(Supreme Patriarch) - Supreme Patriarch of ThailandSupreme Patriarch of ThailandThe Supreme Patriarch or Sangharaja is the head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand. The position is formally appointed by the King of Thailand, although the actual selection is made by senior clergymen...