Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia

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

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. [Harv|Harris|2001|p=75]

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. [Harv|Harris|2001|p=77] 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.Cambodia Daily article on [http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2006/05/former-member-of-vietnamese-installed.html KI Media] ] 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)Harv|Harris|2001|p=83] [Harv|Keyes|1994]
* Choun Nath (1948-1969) (Maha Nikaya)Harv|Harris|2001|p=78]
* Huot Tat (1969-1975) (Maha Nikaya)Harv|Harris|2001|p=78]
* Ghosananda (1988-2007) (Maha Nikaya) [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. Harv|Harris|2001|p=70]
* 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)

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" ( _km. 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" ( _km. សម្តេច ព្រះ​ អគ្គមហាសង្ឃរាជាធិបតី); which is translated as 'foremost great supreme patriarch leader'. [http://www.norodomsihanouk.info/ Website of Norodom Sihanouk] ]

The full official title of the Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya is "Samdech Preah Aphiserei Sukonthea Mohasangreacheathipadei (Abhisirī Sugandhā Mahāsangharājādhipati)" ( _km. សម្តេច ព្រះ អភិសិរី សុគន្ធា មហាសង្ឃរាជាធិបតី). This title means 'Of Higher Merit and Pure Virtue, Great Surpeme Patriarch Leader'. In letters with King-Father Sihanouk, an abbreviated title is used in the valediction: "Samdech Preah Sangreach" ( _km. សម្តេច ព្រះ សង្ឃរាជ).'

Notes

References

*Citation
last = Harris
first = Ian C.
title = Sangha Groupings in Cambodia
journal = Buddhist Studies Review
volume = 18
issue = I
pages = 65–72
publisher = UK Association for Buddhist Studies
date = August 2001
*Citation
last = Harris
first = Ian C.
title = Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice
publisher = University of Hawai`i Press
place = Honolulu, HI
date = 2005
*Citation
last = Keyes
first = Charles F.
chapter = Communist Revolution and the Buddhist Past in Cambodia
title = Asian Visions of Authority: Religion and the Modern States of East and Southeast Asia
pages = 43-73
publisher = University of Hawai`i Press
place = Honolulu, HI
date = 1994

ee also

* Buddhism in Cambodia
* Sangharaja (Surpeme Patriarch)
* Supreme Patriarch of Thailand