TheChinese Buddhist Sangha of Thailand (คณะสงฆ์จีนนิกายแห่งประเทศไทย) is aMahāyāna Buddhist monastic order ofThai Chinese in Thailand. It originated fromChinese immigrants who came to Thailand, bringing with them theirculture,religion, and traditional beliefs.[1] In the early days, before there were ordained monks, the Chinese community first built Chinese shrines as centers for rituals and faith. Later, during the reign ofKing Rama V, Chinese monks fromGuangdong Province came to Thailand in greater numbers to carry out religious activities. This eventually led to the organization of an administrative system for Chinese monks in Thailand, giving rise to the formal establishment of the Chinese Sangha, which has continued to flourish to the present day.[2]
Currently, the administration of the Chinese Sangha is regulated under Ministerial Regulation No. 3 (1977)[3] and Ministerial Regulation No. 4 (1993)[4], issued under the authority of theSangha Act, B.E. 2505 (1962).
Since theHan dynasty, the Thai andChinese people have maintained trade relations. By the 13th–14th CE, theSukhothai Kingdom was founded, and relations between the two nations grew stronger. Chinese immigrants fromGuangdong andFujian came to Thailand for trade and livelihood. Even the kings of Sukhothai adopted techniques from China, such as glazed ceramic production (Sangkhalok ware).
During theAyutthaya Kingdom, the Chinese population in Thailand increased, forming their own communities. Many Chinese also entered royal service. After the fall of Ayutthaya,Phraya Tak (later King Taksin), who was of Chinese descent, rallied Thai–Chinese troops to drive out the invaders and established theThonburi Kingdom.
In 1773 CE (B.E. 2316), Vietnamese chronicles recorded a rebellion inHuế, then the capital of Vietnam, in which rebels destroyed the city and massacred the population, including royal family members. Survivors fled in different directions. A group led by Ong Chiang Sun sought refuge under King Taksin in 1776 CE (B.E. 2319), who granted them asylum.
During this period, Vietnamese Mahāyāna monks established the firstAnnam Nikaya temples in Thailand, including:
Wat Dibayavari Vihara (Kamlo Tu) – located in Ban Mo, Bangkok, later restored under Chinese Sangha administration.
The Chinese and Vietnamese communities together helped establish temples for theAnnam Nikaya. When theRattanakosin Kingdom was founded in 1782 (B.E. 2325) underRama I, Chinese communities were relocated east of theChao Phraya River, around the present-daySampheng area.
DuringRama III’s reign, Thai–Chinese relations flourished in the arts and architecture, with many temples built in the Chinese style.
ByRama V’s reign, the Chinese Chan (Zen) masterSok Heng (續行), from theLinji school ofChan Buddhism, came to Thailand before 1871 CE (B.E. 2414). He resided at the abandoned Avalokiteśvara Vihāra called "Yong Hok Am" (founded in 1795). With lay support, the vihāra was restored and renamed"Yong Hok Yi". In 1887 (B.E. 2430), King Chulalongkorn granted it the royal nameWat Bamphen Chin Phrot and appointed Sok Heng as the firstChinese Sangha Chief (Chao Khun Wang Samathiwat).[6]
No. 2 —Venerable Master Jinwongsamathiwat (果悟 Kueihor), the second abbot of Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. His notable disciple was Venerable Master Takhi (達喜).
No. 3 —Venerable Master Jinwongsamathiwat (盧慶 Lu Kheng), the third abbot of Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. Later he resigned and returned to China. During his absence, Venerable Master Huopchong (Fukyin 复仁) acted as abbot. During this period, Venerable Master Takhi establishedWat Thep Buddhārām (Xian Hud Yi) inChonburi Province and ordained many disciples, including Venerable Master Xiangngi, Venerable Master Xiangki (常機), and Venerable Master Xiangxiu (常修).
No. 4 —Venerable Master Jinwongsamathiwat (用濱 Yongping), the fourth abbot of Wat Mangkon Kamalawat.
Venerable Jinwongsamathiwat traveled to China to pay homage at sacred Buddhist sites and, at age 35, returned to Thailand, where he became abbot ofWat Chin Prachasamoson. In 1949, he was granted the ecclesiastical titleVenerable Jinwongsamathiwat and appointed abbot ofWat Mangkon Kamalawat as well as ordination preceptor for the Chinese Buddhist sect. He guided the development of the Chinese Buddhist monastic order in Thailand, mentoring disciples who were instrumental in establishing new temples and spreading the Dharma. Among his disciples, Venerable Xiangki journeyed to found several temples, includingWat Chengchui Yi (Tham Prathun),Wat Chenghong Yi at Phra Phutthabat Mountain in Saraburi, and theMigang Hermitage in Bangkok. He also ordained future leaders of the Chinese sect, notably Venerable Sunkiang and Venerable Iukiam (Long Nguan).
Renowned for his strict ascetic practice and meditation, Venerable Jinwongsamathiwat entered deep meditation before his passing, attaining final nirvana while seated. His body is now enshrined in the Hall of Founding Masters atWat Chin Prachasamoson.
No. 6 —Maha Khanacharn Phochang (普淨), Abbot ofWat Pho Man Khunaram and the sixth Chief Ecclesiastical Officer of the Chinese Sect in Thailand. He held the royal ecclesiastical rank equivalent to the “special Dhamma level” in theVipassanā division. Born inGuangdong Province in 1901 (B.E. 2444), he came to Thailand in 1927 (B.E. 2470) to study the Dhamma and venerate sacred sites, ordaining at Tham Prathun Hermitage in 1928 under the monastic name "Pho Chaeng."[7]
After six years of intensive practice and study of theVinaya andTipiṭaka, he became highly respected for his discipline and scholarship. In 1934, he traveled to China to receive higher ordination and continued his studies for two years. In 1941, he again went to China, traveling as far as easternTibet to studyVajrayana Buddhism at Rinpoché Monastery, where he mastered esoteric scriptures and was appointed the 18th Sangha Patriarch of the Mantrayana lineage. In 1947, he returned to Thailand, and the following year traveled again to China, where he was appointedVenerable Paramattācariya by the head of the ChineseVinaya school as the 19th Patriarch of that lineage.
Upon his return to Thailand in 1950, he modernized and revitalized the Chinese Buddhist monastic order. He founded and restored several important temples, includingWat Pho Man Khunaram in Bangkok,Wat Pho Yen inKanchanaburi Province,Wat Pho Thattarām inChonburi Province, and the Lapfa Hermitage in Bangkok. He also laid the institutional foundations for Chinese-style monastic ordination ceremonies and played a key role in strengthening and formalizing the Chinese Buddhist order in Thailand.[8]
Later, he served as Vice Chief Ecclesiastical Officer (Left Division) of the Chinese Buddhist order and continued to promote bothVinaya study and meditative practice. Before his passing, Venerable Pho Chaeng entered meditation and attained final nirvana while seated in deep concentration. His body is now enshrined in the Hall of Founding Masters atWat Pho Man Khunaram.
No. 7 —Maha Kanachan Yen Tek (仁得), ordained under the great master Pho Chaeng. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Chinese Buddhist Monastic Committee and Abbot ofWat Pho Man Khunaram. He also pioneered the establishment ofWat Muen Phuttha Mettakunaram to promote Buddhist education for monks in northern Thailand.[9]
No. 8 —Maha Khanacharn Yen Yi (仁意), the current Chief Ecclesiastical Officer and Chairman of the Chinese Sect Monastic Committee, and Abbot ofWat Pho Yen (普仁寺 – Poying Yi).[10]
In addition to the Chief Ecclesiastical Officers mentioned earlier, there were other Mahayana masters whose biographies and works have been recorded as follows:
Venerable Master Kueilong — Served as an assistant to Venerable Sukheng, the first Chief Ecclesiastical Officer. He was highly learned inMahayana Buddhism and assisted in the construction ofWat Chin Prachasamoson (Leng Hok Yi) inChachoengsao Province, later becoming the abbot of that temple.
Venerable Master Takhi — Ordained atWat Mangkon Kamalawat under Venerable Jinwongsamathiwat (Kueihor) as his preceptor and continued studying there. He later went on pilgrimage toChachoengsao Province and played an important role in the construction ofWat Chin Prachasamoson. He was later appointed abbot of that temple. Before assuming that role, he ordained more than 30 disciples, many of whom later became well-known Chinese Buddhist masters. He also preached regularly at the Tek Huai Tueng Hermitage inPhetchaburi Province and later traveled toChonburi Province, where he foundedWat Thep Buddhārām, also known among the Chinese as "Wat Xiang Hud Yi." Since he previously followedTaoism before ordaining as a Buddhist monk, he gave the temple that name as a symbol of spiritual transition.
Before his passing, Venerable Takhi entered deep meditation (jhāna) and attained final nirvana in that state. His body is currently enshrined in the Hall of Founding Masters atWat Thep Buddhārām.
Venerable Master Xiangxiu — A native ofGuangdong Province, China. He was an assistant to Venerable Takhi in building various religious structures and public works such as bridges and roads. He was well-versed in meditation and devoted himself to teaching and spreading the Dhamma with great compassion.
Venerable Master Hong Leng (宏能) — Born in Yao Peng,Guangdong Province, with the surname Tia (Tia family). Upon arriving in Thailand, he ordained atWat Chengchui Yi and practiced ascetic monastic life for more than ten years. Later, he returned to his homeland to pay homage to Buddhist sacred sites together with Venerable Mahākunācariya Jin Thammasamathiwat (Pho Chaeng). During the journey, they visited the Xiang Hu Pagoda on Mount Gu Suo in Hub Suo Subdistrict, Tia Ye District, Guangdong. While venerating the pagoda, he witnessed a host of celestial beings descending to greet him. Entering deep meditation, he levitated up to the pagoda in full view of the gathered crowd, recited praises to theBuddha, circumambulated the relics, and then gently descended to the ground. The spot where he landed turned golden in color. Standing firm and facing west, he entered final nirvana while standing. His body remained upright for seven days and nights. People thereafter honored him with the titleVenerable Liphu Sak, meaning “thebodhisattva who attained enlightenment while standing.” His undecayed body remains enshrined at the Xiang Hu Pagoda in Guangdong.
Introduction of Mahāyāna Vinaya ordinations in Thailand (previously all Chinese monks had to be ordained in China).Wat Pho Yen (Chinese sect) in Kanchanaburi became the first Mahāyāna monastery in Thailand with full ordination rights.
Translation of Chinese Mahāyāna scriptures into Thai began, strengthening education for Chinese Buddhist monks in Thailand.
^Hsu, Kuo-lung (2014).A Research on Chinese Buddhism in Thailand: A Case Study of Chinese Buddhist Sect Bhoman-Khunaram Temple. Hsuan Chuang University, Department of Religious Studies. Advisor: Huang, Yun-hsi. Published in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. In Chinese.Hsuan Chuang University website.
