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                            Dharmarajã
-
Phra
Tharmaracha:

                            Forndation
of
Demacracy
that
Thai
People

                            Want

                            Asst.	Prof.	Dr.	Banjob	Bannaruji*







                            Abstract



                                  The	Pali	word	“Dhammarajã”,	found	in	the	Buddhist	scriptures,	is
                            identical	to	the	Sanskrit	word	“Dhammarajã”,	which	is	the	origin	of	the

                            Thai	word	“Phra	Tharmaracha”.	The	word	was	used	to	refer	to	a	great
                            king	(cakravartin),	a	common	king	by	dharma,	and	also	the	Buddha.	An

                            important	characteristic	of	the	Dhammaraj?	is	to	make	his	people	have
                            moral	happiness.	In	Thai	history,	“tharmaracha”	was	used	in	the	names
                            of	at	least	two	kings	-		King	Lithai	of	the	Sukhothai	period	and	King

                            Prajadhipok	of	the	Ratanakosin	period.		Also,	it	was	used	as	the	real
                            royal	name,	“Phra	Tharmaracha”,	of	one	king	of	the	Ayudhaya	period.

                            This	paper	presents	the	two	meanings	of	“tharmaracha”,	namely	“king	by
                            virtue”	and	“king	of	virtue”,	which	are	proper	for	Thai	kings	who	have
                            used	their	rule	to	create	moral	happiness	among	their	subjects.

                            The	writer	finds	that	“tharmaracha”	in	the	Thai	tradition	has	for	81	years
                            been	used	to	refer	to	democracy	with	division	of	powers	among	an

                            executive,	a	legislature,	and	a	judiciary,	but	the	concept	of	“tharmaracha”
                            previously	invoked	by	“Phra	Tharmaracha”	has	not	been	applied	along
                            with	the	powers.	Therefore	Thai	democracy	remains	far	from	bringing

                            moral	happiness	to	the	masses.


















                            	 *	 Royal	Institute	of	Thailand
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