Tep Vong
Encyclopedia
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 destroyed by the Khmer Rouge
.
In 1979, Tep Vong gave evidence at the trial in absentia of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot
, testifying that Pol Pot had personally executed 57 monks, including several family members. He also claimed to have personally been sentenced to four years labor by the Khmer Rouge. Following the trial, we was elected President of the Unified Cambodian Buddhist Sangha.
While President of the Unified Sangha, Tep Vong put forth the argument that certain forms of political violence could be condoned by Buddhism.
In 1981, Tep Vong was appointed the sangharaja
of a unified Cambodian Sangha, temporarily dissolving the division between the Dhammayuttika and Mahanikaya orders that had existed since 1855. He remained the sole official sangharaja of Cambodia until 1991, when Venerable Bour Kry
was appointed sangharaja of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya by King Sihanouk.
Venerable Tep Vong has been previously criticized by younger members of the sangha for his ties to the government of Vietnam, and with members of the CPP (Cambodian People's Party) government. He has come into conflict with younger members of the sangha who have voiced opposition to government policies and corruption, on one occasion calling publicly for the arrest of the organizers of an anti-government protest.
In 2006, Tep Vong was elevated to the title of Samdech Preah Agga Mahā Sangharājādhipati , or Great Supreme Patriarch. He is the first monk in over 150 years to receive this title.
Sangharaja
Sangharaja 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...
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
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
, which had been nearly destroyed by the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
.
In 1979, Tep Vong gave evidence at the trial in absentia of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot
Pol Pot
Saloth Sar , better known as Pol Pot, , was a Cambodian Maoist revolutionary who led the Khmer Rouge from 1963 until his death in 1998. From 1976 to 1979, he served as the Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea....
, testifying that Pol Pot had personally executed 57 monks, including several family members. He also claimed to have personally been sentenced to four years labor by the Khmer Rouge. Following the trial, we was elected President of the Unified Cambodian Buddhist Sangha.
While President of the Unified Sangha, Tep Vong put forth the argument that certain forms of political violence could be condoned by Buddhism.
In 1981, Tep Vong was appointed the sangharaja
Sangharaja
Sangharaja 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...
of a unified Cambodian Sangha, temporarily dissolving the division between the Dhammayuttika and Mahanikaya orders that had existed since 1855. He remained the sole official sangharaja of Cambodia until 1991, when 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:...
was appointed sangharaja of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya by King Sihanouk.
Venerable Tep Vong has been previously criticized by younger members of the sangha for his ties to the government of Vietnam, and with members of the CPP (Cambodian People's Party) government. He has come into conflict with younger members of the sangha who have voiced opposition to government policies and corruption, on one occasion calling publicly for the arrest of the organizers of an anti-government protest.
In 2006, Tep Vong was elevated to the title of Samdech Preah Agga Mahā Sangharājādhipati , or Great Supreme Patriarch. He is the first monk in over 150 years to receive this title.