DhammacakṢu magazine (1894-1911): Its background and contents

Abstract

        The earliest Buddhist publication in Thailand was DhammacakṢu Magazine (1894–1911), which was established by His Royal Highness Prince-Patriarch Vajirañāṇavarorasa during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V. The periodical’s goal was to practice sutra translation as well as to spread the Buddha Dhamma and enlighten the faculty and staff of Mahamakut Buddhist College. This study’s objectives are to investigate the DhammacakṢu Magazine’s (1894–1911) background, the Buddhadhamma’s contents and techniques of presentation within, and the significant influence the Buddhadhamma has had on Thai Buddhism. A documentary study was thus conducted.
        From an analysis of the background of DhammacakṢu, three things can be inferred: 1) the appearance of Western print media, 2) King Chulalongkorn’s concern over the Buddhist monks’ comprehension of Siam, and 3) the propagation of Buddhism as one of the aims of Mahamakut’s College of Buddhism. Regarding the examination of the Buddhadhamma’s content and methods of presentation that were used in the DhammacakṢu magazine, it was discovered that the Buddhadhamma’s content were divided into ten categories as follows: 1. The Buddhasamaya (translated sutras) 2. The Buddha-samaya Vaṇṇana (the explanation of the translated sutra) 3. The Buddhānubhuddhapravatti (Buddha’s life story) 4. A description of Buddha’s life story 5. PakiṇṇakadeṢaṇa (the various Buddhadhamma) 6. Kathamagga (the various teachings of monks) 7. Dhammaharuethai (the essence of Buddhadhamma) 8. Proverbs and Tales of Buddhism 9. The Book of Old Philosophers 10. Trivia. In conclusion, The Background and Contents of Buddhadhamma as published in DhammacakṢu magazine, which reflects changes in knowledge and understanding of Buddhism and the propagation of a Buddhist Dhamma that could be applied to the context of a Thai society under the influence of western ideas.