Supreme Patriarch of the Annam Nikaya

Supreme Patriarch of the Annam Nikaya
since January 24, 2022
AppointerSupreme Patriarch of Thailand (by royal command)
Term lengthLife tenure
Inaugural holderPhra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ong Hung)
Salary8,800 baht[1]

The Supreme Patriarch of the Annam Nikaya (เจ้าคณะใหญ่อนัมนิกาย) is the head of the Annam Nikaya of Thailand. The current Supreme Patriarch is Maha Khananam Tinrien, who has held office since June 2022.[2]

According to the Sangha Act B.E. 2505 (1962) and subsequent ministerial regulations—Ministerial Regulation No. 3 (B.E. 2520) and No. 4 (B.E. 2536)—governing the administration of other monastic orders, the Annamnikaya is organized to ensure that monastic governance adheres to the Dhamma-Vinaya, sectarian traditions, law, and royal commands of the Supreme Patriarch.

The regulations grant the Supreme Patriarch the authority to establish rules and issue directives consistent with the Dhamma-Vinaya, sect traditions, laws, royal decrees, and government protocols to ensure proper monastic administration. Ministerial Regulation No. 3 (1977) and No. 4 (1993) stipulate the hierarchical order of authority among the clergy as follows:[3]

  1. Supreme Patriarch
  2. Deputy Supreme Patriarch
  3. Assistant Supreme Patriarch (Right Division)
  4. Assistant Supreme Patriarch (Left Division)
  5. Right Secretary
  6. Left Secretary
  7. Deputy Right Secretary
  8. Deputy Left Secretary
  9. Assistant Right Secretary
  10. Assistant Left Secretary
  11. Abbot
  12. Deputy Abbot
  13. Assistant Abbot

Insignia and Regalia

The regalia bestowed upon the Supreme Patriarch of the Annam Nikaya includes:

  1. A fan of rank (Phatyot) shaped like a flame, with a red-yellow-purple brocade background embroidered with gold thread, ivory handle and finial
  2. A full ceremonial triple robe (Traiphra Luang) of the Annamnikaya type
  3. A red monastic shoulder bag with floral patterns and red silk lining, with two silk tassels on each side
  4. A high-quality iron alms bowl with brass rim and straps of red patterned fabric with silk tassels
  5. A yellow felt ceremonial hat adorned with images of the Five Buddhas and the Four Guardian Kings
  6. An ivory ceremonial baton (Nru-e) made of solid ivory
  7. A redwood staff with a gilded brass finial
  8. A pair of small bronze bells with handles for shaking

List of Supreme Patriarchs of the Annamnikaya

In the early period, the Annamnikaya monks were still under the main Thai Sangha. During the reign of Rama V, the order was officially granted self-governing status. His Majesty reasoned that, just as the Mon monks were granted official ecclesiastical titles, it was fitting to also bestow titles upon Vietnamese monks. The lineage of Supreme Patriarchs of the Annamnikaya is as follows:

No. Name Term began Term ended Monastery
1 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ong Hung) (Ông Chân Hưng) 1877 Unknown Wat Uphai Ratchabumrung
2 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Diệu Trạm) Unknown Unknown Wat Anamnikayaram
3 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Chí Lập) Unknown Unknown Wat Samnanamburihan
4 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Thanh Khiết) Unknown Unknown Wat Uphai Ratchabumrung
5 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Mật Ngôn) Unknown Unknown Wat Mongkhon Samakhom
6 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Viên Mãn) Unknown Unknown Wat Kusolsamakorn
7 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Phổ Sái) 1926 1958 Wat Uphai Ratchabumrung
8 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Bình Lương) Unknown Unknown Wat Lokanukroh
9 Phra Khru Khananam Samana Charn (Ông Phổ Liên) 1964 1992 Wat Chaiphumkaram
10 Phra Khananamtham Samathiwat (Ông Giác Mẫn) Unknown Unknown Wat Mongkhon Samakhom
11 Phra Maha Khananamtham Panyathiwat (Charoen Kinjeow) 1985 2018 Wat Kusolsamakorn
12 Phra Maha Khananamtham Panyathiwat (Thanom Thienthuk) 2018 2022 Wat Kusolsamakorn
13 Maha Khananam Tinrien 2022 — Wat Samnanamburihan


References

  1. ^ "Revised Allowance Table Effective from April 1, 2011". Office of Buddhism, Phuket. 2012-04-27. Archived from the original on 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  2. ^ "Appointment of Acting Supreme Patriarch of the Annamnikaya". Thai Monastic Titles and Ecclesiastical Ranks Facebook Page. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  3. ^ Royal Gazette, Ministerial Regulation No. 4 (B.E. 2536) pursuant to the Sangha Act B.E. 2505 Archived 2022-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, Vol. 110, Part 166, October 20, 1993, pp. 1–2
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