Buddhism in the pre-Thai kingdoms
The Mahāvaṃsa, a historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, mentions that during the reign of See more

Common Thai Buddhist practices revolve around the monastic sangha. A major practice among lay persons is donating to the sangha, a practice that generates merit (tham bun), which … See more

Various major forces have influenced the development of Buddhism in Thailand. By far the most dominant and influential tradition is the See more

As in most other Theravada nations, Buddhism in Thailand is represented primarily by the presence of Buddhist monks, who serve as officiants on ceremonial … See more

Early Rattanakosin period (1782–1851)
Rama I (reigned 1782–1809) of the Chakri Dynasty (which remains the current royal family of Thailand) founded the Rattanakosin Kingdom. Under Rama I, new temples were constructed at the new capital of See more

While Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, it inherited a strong Southeast Asian tradition of Buddhist kingship that tied the legitimacy of the state to its protection and support for Buddhist institutions. This connection has been maintained into the … See more

The Thai media often reports on Buddhist monks behaving in ways that are considered inappropriate. There have been reports of … See more