| Ariyaka | |
|---|---|
 Bhikkhu Patimokkha inLatin-derived Ariyaka script invented by King Mongkutc. 1841 to write Buddhist texts. | |
| Script type | |
Period | c. 1800s |
| Direction | Left-to-right |
| Region | Thailand |
| Language | Pali |
| Languages | Lao,Isan, and others |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Thai.Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
TheAriyaka script (Thai:อักษรอริยกะ) is an obsoletealphabet, invented by KingMongkut as an alternative to transcribingPali, the liturgical language ofTheravada Buddhism. The script, inspired by theGreek andBurmese-Mon scripts, did not come into popular use and eventually fell out of usage.[1]
Pali, an early-period language, has been traditionally used to preserve cultural heritage and religious teachings. The Ariyaka alphabet was invented by KingMongkut (Rama IV) of Siam (1804–1868) as an alternative script for Pali. Mongkut found theKhom Thai script, which was commonly used for Pali, to be too complex and sought to create a more accessible and Western-style script.
During mid-19th century religious reforms in theRattanakosin Kingdom (1782–1932), Mongkut discouraged the use of Khom Thai in religious texts, arguing that its exclusivity falsely implied divine or magical significance. Instead, he ordered Buddhist monks to adopt the Thai script for recording theTripiṭaka. In the 1830s and 40s, he introduced the Ariyaka script to facilitate printing rather than relying on traditional palm-leaf manuscripts.[2]
Mongkut established a printing press for the script atBowonniwet Vihara Temple in Bangkok, where a limited number of texts were printed. The Ariyaka script, inspired by Greek and Mon-Burmese scripts, was designed to replace existing Pali transcription scripts such as Khom Thai andTai Tham.[3]
The Pali alphabet, including the Ariyaka script, consists of 41 letters:
Consonants are further classified into 25 mutes, 6 semivowels, 1 sibilant, and 1 aspirant, with vowels divided into long and short forms.[4]
In modern times, computational research has been conducted on Ariyaka script recognition. A study by Neha Gautam (2015) proposed a PALI Alphabet Recognition System, which utilizes image processing techniques to digitize and identify Ariyaka characters for textual analysis.[5]
Media related toAriyaka script at Wikimedia Commons