Monarchy, Sangha and State: The Historical Dynamics of Monastic Reforms in Thailand, 18–21st Centuries

This article traces the historical trajectory of monastic reforms in Thailand from King Rama I’s coronation (1782) to the 2017 amendments to the Sangha Act. Its aim is to uncover the cyclic interaction among monarchy, Sangha, and state, and to show how changing political regimes reshaped monastic autonomy. The study employs a multi-layered methodology: source-critical analysis of royal edicts and Sangha legislation, comparative historical mapping of centralization phases, quantitative assessment of clerical and fiscal trends, and legal herme-neutics of “Buddhist constitutionalism”. Findings reveal a “reactive spiral” in which every regime tightened bureau-cratic oversight, prompting reformist counter-movements within the Sangha. Today, the key challenge lies in finan-cial transparency and monks’ digital presence. A hybrid decentralization model is proposed as the most sustainable equilibrium between religious autonomy and state patronage.