Buddhist Kingship Research Articles

The Role of Sasana Reform in Burmese History: Economic Dimensions of a Religious Purification

Throughout Burmese history people donated money, land, and labor to the sangha in the hope of acquiring merit and ensuring rebirth in a better existence. Each dynasty was confronted with the flow of wealth from state properties and taxable public holdings to tax-free sanghika estates. Since all religious donations were given in perpetuity, and so were cumulative, the pattern had serious economic consequences. It also posed an ideological dilemma for the monarch: while he was supposed to be the major benefactor of the Religion, the state needed these essential resources for its own survival. In order to halt this trend temporarily, or reverse it within the confines of legitimate Buddhist kingship, Burmese kings used sasana reform, a religious ritual for purifying the sangha; sasana reform was structurally related to economic factors. Although this paper is concerned primarily with Burma, evidence is provided to suggest that similar economic pressures may have been responsible for sasana reform in India, Ceylon, and Thailand.

Early Buddhist Kingship

Monarchy was the dominant political institution of the Buddha's time. The Enlightened One was on very cordial terms with some of the leading monarchs of the times, whose interest and patronage early Buddhism appreciated a great deal. Many a rule of the Vinaya code was discreetly amended in deference to the convenience of kings such as Bimbisara and Pasendi, the Kosalan. And quite a few scions of royal families joined the order of monks and nuns and played a leading part in the propagation of the creed during its early critical years.

Scientific Work in India

In the August number of Discovery, Sir Lewis Fermor gives an interesting account of the history and development of pure and applied science in India. It is well known that India possesses a very ancient culture and civilization. As regards ancient science, the Hindus made important contributions to mathematics, and, as Sir Lewis points out, they possessed a considerable knowledge of zoology, medicine and chemistry. Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray's book on the “History of Hindu Chemistry” from the earliest times up to the middle of the sixteenth century A.D. provides valuable information concerning this branch of science. The conquests of Alexander the Great gave India an important stimulus to intercourse with Europe, but, as Sir Lewis observes, much ancient Indian science antedates this Greek influence. Moreover, it must not be forgotten that when the Arabs brought science to Europe, their knowledge derived from Indian as well as Greek sources. Although in its earlier days the East India Company did not employ scientific men as such in India, it is a striking fact that James Prinsep, one of the Company's official assayers, deciphered in 1838 the ancient Brahmi script used in the rock-cut inscriptions or edicts of the Indian Buddhist king, Asoka (died circa 237 B.C.).

Three Letters from Buddhist Kings to the Chinese Court in the Fifth Century

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

Three Letters from Buddhist Kings to the Chinese Court in the Fifth Century

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.