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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

Dharmasattham, the Mon influence on traditional Thai laws (Thammasat Scripture). His Majesty

the King accepts the ten virtues of the king at the Royal Coronation given by His Holiness
the Supreme Patriarch via the Mongkolvisesakatha sermon.

Ashoka the Great applied the concept of the good ruler to rule his kingdom and other
countries by Dhammavijaya (conquest through dharma) rather than Sangkhamavijaya (conquest

through battles). He was the first to create a welfare state and the first to introduce veganism
to India. He was the king who elevated Buddhism to be one of the world leading religions

by sending monk ambassadors to 9 different destinations, one of them to Sri Lanka in the
reign of Devanampiya Tissa and another one to Siam (Thailand). Phraya Lithai of the Sukhothai

kingdom mentioned in Traibhumikatha of Sri Thammasokaraj, the founder and first king of
Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom or Ligor City. Phray Lithai himself changed his name to Phra

Maha Thammaracha Lithai (King Maha Thammaracha I), reflecting the acceptance of Buddhism
philosophy and all subsequent kings of the Phra Ruang Dynasty were named Phra Maha

Thammaracha II to IV. King Maha Thammarachathirat, the King Father of King Naresuan the Great,
was another example of the Buddhism’s influence. We call the first prince born to Her Majesty

the Queen as Somdej Nhor Phra Buddhachao for the Crown Prince. We call ourselves as
Kha Phra Buddhachao (slave of the Lord Buddha). We call His Majesty King Rama V as

Phra Buddhachao Luang (the Royal Lord Buddha). Not only Buddhism’s influence but also
the title of God is included in the name of His Majesty the King, for instance, Sukhothai

Dhammaracha, Boramintara Maha Dhammik Maha Rachathirat as the Royal signature of
His Majesty King Rama VII.

If one reads the immortalized first Royal command by His Majesty King Rama IX on
the coronation day “We shall reign in righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the

Siamese people.” which is the briefest Royal policy in the world, all contained in one sentence,
but was practiced as long as 70 years of his reign. One will find that it is quite different from

the 50 pages-long government policy, which took 3 hours to read in the parliament but lasted
no more than 4 years, when it was carried out. His Majesty the King pledged his first Royal

command in front of the monks, nuns, Brahmans, Prime Ministers, the president of the Supreme
Court, the president of the Legislative Assembly, and diplomats. His Majesty King Rama X’s

first Royal command “We will continue, preserve, enhance, and rule the land justly for the
perpetual benefit and happiness of the people.” was not required by any law in the constitution.

The fact that His Majesty the King pledged his first Royal command in accordance with tradition
is different from the other countries like Japan or the Scandinavian nations, where the monarchs

are required to make a pledge based on the constitution.

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