World Conqueror and World Renouncer: A Study of Buddhism and Polity in Thailand against a Historical Background
Abstract
World Conqueror and World Renouncer is the first comprehensive and authoritative work on the relationship between Buddhism and the polity (political organization) in Thailand. The book conveys the historical background necessary for full comprehension of the contemporary structural relationship between Buddhism, the sangha (monastic order), and the polity, including the historic institution of kingship. Professor Tambiah delineates the overall relationship, as postulated in early Buddhism, between the monk's otherworldly quest on one side and the this-worldly ordinating role of the monarchy on the other. He also examines the complementary and dialectical tensions that occur in this classical relationship, the king's duty to both protect and purify the sangha being a notable example.
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Rulers in Buddhist-majority countries today, as in the past, promote the association of religious potency with political potency, often claiming moral legitimacy for their rule through the powers associated with Buddhist practice.
“Rulers in Buddhist-majority countries today, as in the past, promote the association of religious potency with political potency, often claiming moral legitimacy for their rule through the powers associated with Buddhist practice (Flügel and Houtman 2019; Tambiah 1976; Jackson 1989; Jory 2002).”
From Mindfulness or Sati? An Anthropological Comparison of an Increasingly Global Concept (2021) · cites this paper as Tambiah 1976
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Posner, D. N. (2005) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511808661 · Cited by 1,113 · see citing works
Mindfulness or Sati? An Anthropological Comparison of an Increasingly Global Concept
Cassaniti, J. L. (2021) · Zenodo · doi:10.5281/zenodo.4727577 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Schonthal, B. (2021) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/713588 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Choompolpaisal, P. (2021) · Buddhist Studies Review · doi:10.1558/bsrv.21196 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Samuels, J. (2019) · Buddhism and the Dynamics of Transculturality · doi:10.1515/9783110413083-010 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Hughes, A. D. (2021) · Archives of Asian Art · doi:10.1215/0066637-9302495
The Vicissitudes of Multiple Buddhas in Theravada Buddhism: Of Ludic Play, Gender, and Politics
Bowie, K. A. (2024) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/730858
Toward a History of Theravada Cosmological Literature
Gornall, A. (2024) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/729672
Hewage, B. (2026) · Global Intellectual History · doi:10.1080/23801883.2026.2640104
Untitled work
Sen, T. (1999) · Ars Orientalis
Untitled work
Mackenzie, R. (2007)
- Authors
- Tambiah, S. J.
- Corresponding author
- Tambiah, S. J.
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 1976-08-27
- OpenAlex
- W2108992814
- Cited by
- 811
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 46
- FWCI
- 38.48
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Cambodian History and Society
- Keywords
- Buddhism and politics, sangha, Thai monarchy, kingship, Buddhist monasticism, early Buddhism, Buddhist ordination, Thailand
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