Maha Khanacharn Yen Yi

Phra Maha Khanacharn Chin Tham Wachiracharn (Yen Yi) (Chinese: 仁意) is a Mahayana Buddhist monk of Thai Cantonese descent. He currently serves as the Supreme Chief Monk of the Chinese Sangha of Thailand and Chairman of the Chinese Sangha Council, as well as the Abbot of Wat Pho Yen.

Phra Maha Khanacharn Chin Tham Wachiracharn was born as Worawit Phothithawin-kiat, of the Tang (鄧) clan, to Mr. Xiahua Tang and Mrs. Kiao Lang Luo.

In 1956 (B.E. 2499), he was ordained as a novice, and on 15 May 1957 (B.E. 2500) he received full ordination at Wat Pho Yen, Tha Maka District, Kanchanaburi Province. He was given the monastic name Yen Yi by his preceptor, Maha Khanacharn Phochang, the 6th Supreme Chief Monk of the Chinese Buddhist Sangha of Thailand.

• 1968 (B.E. 2511) – Deputy Abbot of Wat Pho Man Khunaram
• 1969 (B.E. 2512) – Member of the Chinese Sangha Council and Director of the Secretariat Division
• 1975 (B.E. 2518) – Appointed Preceptor
• 1982 (B.E. 2525) – Appointed Deputy Left Secretary of the Chinese Sangha
• 1987 (B.E. 2530) – Appointed Left Secretary of the Chinese Sangha and Director of the Administrative Division
• 1996 (B.E. 2539) – Appointed Assistant Supreme Chief Monk (Left Division)
• 1999 (B.E. 2542) – Appointed Abbot of Wat Pho Yen, Kanchanaburi Province
• 2004 (B.E. 2547) – Appointed Assistant Supreme Chief Monk (Right Division)
• 2019 (B.E. 2562) – Appointed Deputy Supreme Chief Monk of the Chinese Sangha
• 2023 (B.E. 2566) – Appointed Acting Supreme Chief Monk
• 2025 (B.E. 2568) – Appointed Supreme Chief Monk of the Chinese Buddhist Sangha of Thailand

• 1970 (B.E. 2513) – Appointed as Luang Chin Thamathorn (Yen Yi) under Maha Khanacharn Phochang
• 1977 (B.E. 2520) – Appointed as Luang Chin Palad Tham Samathiwat (Yen Yi)
• 1982 (B.E. 2525) – Granted royal title Luang Chin Thamnan Chin Praphat, Deputy Left Secretary of the Chinese Sangha^[1]
• 1987 (B.E. 2530) – Granted royal title Luang Chin Thamrot Chin Satsana, Left Secretary of the Chinese Sangha^[2]
• 1996 (B.E. 2539) – Granted royal title Phra Ajahn Chin Thammanukorn Sunthornsasanakit, Assistant Supreme Chief Monk (Left Division)^[3] (Equivalent to Royal Ecclesiastical Rank – Ordinary Level)
• 1999 (B.E. 2542) – Granted royal title Phra Ajahn Chin Thammanukorn Sunthornsasanakit Pawananusit Paisan, Assistant Supreme Chief Monk (Left Division)^[4] (Equivalent to Royal Ecclesiastical Rank – Raj level)
• 2006 (B.E. 2549) – Granted royal title Phra Ajahn Chin Winyanukorn Sunthorn Thamphusit Paliattikitkoson, Assistant Supreme Chief Monk (Right Division)^[5] (Equivalent to Royal Ecclesiastical Rank – Raj level)
• 2019 (B.E. 2562) – Granted royal title Phra Khanacharn Chin Tham Wiriya Charn Paisan Samanakit Prasit Sirimongkol Kunaphivat, Deputy Supreme Chief Monk^[6] (Equivalent to Royal Ecclesiastical Rank – Thep level)
• 2024 (B.E. 2567) – Granted royal title Phra Maha Khanacharn Chin Tham Wachiracharn Phutthabonsak Chin Phinetu Withes Tham Prasat Nawakit Pilas Prayuk Thamnu Chin Pracha Wisit, Acting Supreme Chief Monk, with six subordinate ranks^[7] (Equivalent to Royal Ecclesiastical Rank – Dhamma Special Class)