PALI STUDIES IN THAILAND

Dr. Phramaha Somjin Sammapanno, Assistant Professor, Deputy Rector for Academic Affair, Mahachulalongkornrajvidyalaya University

Introduction of Pali Studies into Thailand

After the third Buddhist Council, Bhikkhus Sona and Uttara the Elder along with their missionary group came to Suvaúúabhûmi Region to introduce Buddhism. Buddhism has become the religion of the people in this region since then. Buddhism might have been introduced into Thailand at least through three channels:

(1) by land, i.e. walking through Bengal--Burma--Thailand

(2) by sea, i.e. ship sailing through Bengal--Mataban--Davai--Tanaosi--Thailand

(3) by sea, i.e. ship sailing through Malacca Pass--Malayu Peninsula--Jampa--Thailand.

In the beginning, the Buddhist literary works were introduced into Thailand through these channels. But there have been no clear-cut evidences to show which forms these works were of: book, inscription, or any other form. There were many Buddhist literary works written in India, especially in the period of University Monastery such as Nâlanda Mahâvihâra. Some of those works were introduced into Thailand, e.g. The Questions of King Menander (Milindapañho). And when Buddhist literary works were written in Lanka, many of them were introduced into Thailand continuously as well. Therefore, nowadays fifty-two commentaries, such as the commentary on the Vinaya Piíaka entitled Samantapâsâdikâ, the commentary on the Dîgha Nikâya entitled Sumaàgalavilâsini, and the commentary of Dhammasaàgaúî entitled Aííhasâlinî have been well known to Thai monks and laymen who are interested in Pali studies. Apart from these, there are many other Buddhist scriptures, e.g. Nettipakarana, Petakopadesa, Visuddhimagga, Vimuttimagga, Abhidhammavatâra, Dîpavaèsa, Mahâvaèsa, Saddanîtippakaraúa Dhâtumâlâ-Suttamâlâ-Padamâlâ which are also well known to Thai monks and laymen.

Pali Studies in Thai History

Sukhothai period was the inflowing time of Buddhist literary works from foreign countries to Thailand because of many factors. King Ramkhamhaeng the Great played two key roles at the same time: ruling the country and teaching the Buddha's Dhamma. King Lithai of Sukhothai also invited monks to come and study the Tipiíaka scriptures along with various arts inside the Royal Palace.

Some passages in the book entitled "Tao-Sichulalak" tell us that some monks were well-versed in one, or two, or four, or five books of the Vinaya Piíaka, some monks were well-versed in forty, or one hundred, or many more Suttas in the Suttanta Piíaka, some monks were well-versed in ten, or many more Bhanavaras in the Abhidhamma Piíaka.

In Lan-na, the arrival of Buddhist literary works from foreign countries resulted in Buddhist scholar monks in Chiang Mai and surrounding area. Those scholars wrote many Buddhist literary works; for instance, Phra Sirimangalajarn wrote Maàgalatthadîpani, Vessantaradîpani and other works.

However, Pali studies in Sukhothai and Lan-na might not be systematized in the form of curriculum of study, grade of study and examination. Later on, in Ayutthya period (BE 1893-2310=CE 1350-1767), during the reign of King Narayana, the curriculum, teaching activity and examination were set up. The form of examination in those days was oral (Mukhapatha). The grade of qualification was divided into three as follows:

  • Grade I, or Bariantri, for students who finished translating the Suttanta Piíaka.
  • Grade II, or Bariantho, for students who finished translating the Vinaya Piíaka.
  • Grade III, or Barian-ek, for students who finished translating the Suttanta, Vinaya and Abhidhamma Piíaka.

In Rattanakosin period (BE 2325-present=CE 1782-present), the method of Pali study was copied from that of Ayutthya period. But it might be changed a little. In the reign of King Rama II (BE 2352-2367=CE 1809-1824), His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Mi of Wat Ratchaburana gave advice to the King to change the system of Pali study and examination. The grade of study was divided into nine, i.e. grades I to IX (Pali I-IX). The teachers were called "Royal scholars" (Rajapaúóit). The teaching and examination activity were run inside Wat Phrasirattanasatsadaram (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

In the reign of King Rama VI (BE 2453-2468=CE 1910-1925), the grade of study was regrouped as follows:

(1) Grade I-III: Pariandhamtri (Pariandham I)

(2) Grade IV-VI: Pariandhamtho (Pariandham II)

(3) Grade VII-IX: Pariandham-ek (Pariandham III)

Apart from this, the new section of ecclesiastical education, i.e. Dhamma Study (Nukdham) has been established and the grade of study has been divided into three, namely Grade I (Nukdhamtri), Grade II (Nukdhamtho), and Grade III (Nukdham-ek). Along with this, each grade (of Nukdham) has been fixed as the prerequisite of Pali Studies as follows:

(1) Grade I (Nukdhamtri) as the prerequisite of Pali Studies grade I-III

(2) Grade II (Nukdhamtho) as the prerequisite of Pali Studies grade IV-VI

(3) Grade III (Nukdham-ek) as the prerequisite of Pali Studies grade VII-IX

Later on, in the reign of King Rama VII, the method of examination has been changed from oral to paper writing examination and the curriculum of Pali Studies was fixed for grades I-IX (BE 2470=CE 1967 approximately) as follows:

 

Pali No.

Subjects

Text-books

Pali I-III

Translation from Pali into Thai

Commentary of Dhammapada

Pali IV

Translation from Pali into Thai

Maàgalatthadîpani, Part 1

Pali V

Translation from Pali into Thai

Sâratthasaàgaha

Pali VI

Translation from Pali into Thai

Maàgalatthadîpani, Part 2

Pali VII

Translation from Pali into Thai

Samantapâsâdikâ (Commentary of the Vinaya), Part 1

Pali VIII

Translation from Pali into Thai

Visuddhimagga

Pali IX

Translation from Pali into Thai

Sâratthadîpani (sub-commentary of the Vinaya)

 

In the reign of King Rama IX (King Bhumipol, the present King), Somdet Phrabuddhakhosajarn (Phuen Jutindharo) of Wat Samphraya, Bangkok, was the Chief of Royal Pali Section. In BE 2507 (CE 1964), His Holiness changed the curriculum of Pali Studies a little on the basis of that used by King Rama VI, with new subjects added to grade IV-IX. There will be the details of this curriculum in the next headline.

 

Pali Studies of the Thai Saàgha in the Present Day Thailand

Administrative Structure*

* the administrative system is centralized.

Curriculum

The ecclesiastical education of Thai Saàgha in Pali Studies is divided into nine grades and the text-books for each grade are fixed as follows:

 

Pali Grade

Subjects

Text-books

Pali I-II

Translation from Pali into Thai

Pali Grammar

Commentary of Dhammapada, Parts 1-4

 

Pali Grammar, Books 1-4

Pali III

Translation from Pali into Thai

Thai Composition

Pali Grammar

Method of Letter Writing

Commentary of Dhammapada, Parts 5-8

Commentary of Dhammapada, Parts 5-8

 

Pali Grammar, Books 1-4

General regulation of secretariat*

Pali IV

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Commentary of Dhammapada, Part 1

Maàgalatthadîpani, Part 1

Pali V

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Commentary of Dhammapada, Part 2-4

Maàgalatthadîpani, Part 2

Pali VI

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Commentary of Dhammapada, Parts 5-8

Samantapâsâdikâ, Parts 3-5

Pali VII

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Maàgalatthadîpani, Part 1

Samantapâsâdikâ, Parts 1-2

Pali VIII

Prosody (Poetry)

 

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Writing Pali in verse from passages fixed by Royal Pali Section (examinees do three kinds of six prosodies)

Samantapâsâdikâ, Part 1

Visuddhimagga, Parts 1-3

Pali IX

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Thai into Pali

Translation from Pali into Thai

Writing Pali in prose from passages
fixed by Royal Pali Section.

Visuddhimagga, Parts 1-3

Abhidhammatthavibhâvini Tîkâ

Learning and Teaching, Assessment and Evaluation

In Bangkok, there are 80 authorized ecclesiastical schools of Pali, while in rural area there are 108 authorized ecclesiastical schools of Pali in various provinces. But in reality, there many more unauthorized schools throughout the country. In practice, each school can manage all the activities by themselves. The ecclesiastical schools of Pali gain mostly financial support from lay Buddhist devotees, from senior monks and from government as well.

The process of Assessment and Evaluation is called Royal Pali Examination, because in ancient time, the Thai Kings carried on the activity involving Pali Studies by themselves. Though in later time, their Majesty the kings have assigned this activity to the government officials, it is still supported by the kings.

When the time of examination is coming, the administrators of Royal Pali Section in Bangkok headed by the Chief of Royal Pali Section will date the examination-day and examination-place and then prepare the question-papers (the central questions only). After that, some senior monks are assigned by the administrators in Bangkok to take those questions to organize the examination in various places as fixed earlier.

The process of assessment and evaluation is very strict. There are many more details left to be learned about. In assessment, there are no gained marks found, there are only lost marks found. For instance, it can roughly be estimated that the examinees have to gain at least 88 marks (out of 100 marks) to pass the subject of Translation from Pali into Thai and vice versa, and at least 75 marks (out of 100 marks) to pass the subject of Pali Grammar. In evaluation, the evaluation-score is "H" (called Hai in Thai). In each subject, the full score is 3Hs, and the examinees have to gain at least 2 Hs (of 3Hs) for every subject to pass each grade. This is a tough examination. Even though the Pali Studies examination of the Thai Saàgha is generally regarded as very very difficult as a great deal of monks and novices fail in examination every year, we should not consider it a waste of time or it is useless. Anyway, this is the tradition of screening-process by the Thai Saàgha.

Interesting Statistics (5 years back)

Year

Examinees of all grades

Passed

BE 2545 (CE 2002)

43,408

4,948

BE 2546 (CE 2003)

41,278

5,177

BE 2547 (CE 2004)

38,805

5,119

BE 2548 (CE 2005)

40,547

5,671

BE 2549 (CE 2006)

37,467

5,513

BE 2550 (CE 2007)

29,340

 

 

* The noteworthy point is that to finish the Pali IX (Grade IX) is very difficult. It is a nine-year curriculum but actually some monks spent even 20 years to complete it. Therefore, from BE 2325(CE 1782) up to February of BE 2550 (CE 2007), in a period of 225 years, there were only 1,195 monks and novices (plus 3 nuns and 1 woman =1,199 ) who graduated Pali IX (Grade IX)

Pali Studies in Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

1. Pali Studies in MCU Curriculum

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) is a public autonomous university, like the University of the Thai Saàgha. MCU pays very much attention to Pali Studies. This kind of education has been provided from the outset up to the present. The MCU curriculum involving Pali Studies is as follows:

(A) Curriculum Majoring in Pali:

(1) Certificate in Pali

(2) Bachelor of Arts in Pali

(3) Bachelor of Arts in Pali Buddhist Studies

(4) Master of Arts in Pali

(B) Pali Subjects in various curriculums:

(1) In Bachelor of Arts, there are Pali subjects or related subjects in the group of Core-Buddhist Subjects of every curriculum i.e. Pali Translation, Tipiíaka Studies, Vinaya Piíaka, Suttanta Piíaka, Abhidhamma Piíaka. All the students of MCU in every major have to study these subjects.

(2) The lay students in Master Degree who have not studied Pali subjects, or related subjects have to study the additional Pali subject I and II.

(3) Pali Language is selected as one of five foreign languages which the Ph.D. students can select for qualifying examination.

2. Scriptures and Books for Pali Studies

In the present day, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) carries out many projects of producing the scriptures and books to promote Pali Studies in Thailand. There are at least six main projects involving Pali Studies:

1. Pali Tipiíaka, MCU Version (45 vols., completed)

2. Thai Tipiíaka, MCU Version (45 vols., completed, third edition)

3. Pali Commentary, MCU Version (52 vols., completed)

4. Thai Commentary, MCU Version (52 vols., on process)

5. Thai Tipiíaka in Brief, MCU Version (5 vols., on process)

6. Thai Tipiíaka on CD, MCU-Trai (completed).

 

End

 



[1] Presented at The International Conference of All Theravâda Buddhist Universities held at The International Theravâda Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, & at Woodlands Hotel, Poppa Mountain Resort, Bagan, Myanmar, 9-12th March 2007.

Comments

Koh Samui

very good article, but when I read it, I thought that one country different people see differently

rev. shuvash barua

i express my full willingness with most respectfully to authority of this after i knowing also this and again thank a lot no behalf of all Buddhist monk of Bangladesh .and i also hope you lead all the world.....shuvashbarua@yahoo.com