The late 19th and early 20th centuries were uncertain times for Thai Buddhism. King Mongkut, also known as Rama IV (1804–1868), spent much of his life as a monk from 1824 to 1851. He sought significant changes and modernization within the religion, aiming to return to the Pali Canon. However, these reforms could not be implemented until the final years of his son King Chulalongkorn’s reign (1853–1910). Chulalongkorn formalized and solidified a new hierarchy of the Sangha through the Sangha Law of 1902. In 1910, he appointed his half-brother Vajirananavarorasa (วชิรญาณวโรรส, 1860 – 1921) as the tenth Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, filling a position that had been vacant for a decade following the death of the previous Supreme Patriarch.

The author of the first speech was Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya  (สมเด็จพระพุทธโฆษาจารย์, 1872-1951), the head of Dhammayuttika Nikāya or Dhammayut Order, a Buddhist reform movement of Thailand, backed in the 19th century by King Mongkut.

The author of the second two speeches was Vajirananavarorasa (1860 – 1921), the half-brother of King Chulalongkorn and Supreme Patriarch of Thailand from 1910 until his death, helping to institutionalize Thai Buddhism.

The speeches were derived from the manuscripts stored at the National Archives. The Ministry of Education and the palace supervised the printing process of the pamphlets, with the king himself overseeing the effort. These texts were printed as official copies of significant speeches that the authorities considered important to preserve in book format.

The following texts mark an important step towards the modernization of Thai Buddhism and introduce a new, modern era in Thai history.

In 1911, at the time of cremation ceremony for King Chulalongkorn and the beginning of reign of Rama VI, the idea of loyally printed transcriptions of manuscript texts would develop in popular ephemeral cremation volumes under the supervision of the National Library (see the previous lot in our catalogue).

1. A sermon preached by Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya at the re-dedication of Wat Arun. February 20th, 1910.

พระธรรมเทศนาปฏิสังขรณกถา. สมเด็จพระพุทธโฆษาจาริย์ ถวาย ในการพระราชกุศลพระชนมายุสมมงคล วันที่. ๒๐ กุมภาพันธ์ ร.ศ. ๑๒๗. พิมพ์โดย พระบรมราชโองการ. พิมพ์ ครั้ง แรก ໑໕໐໐ ฉบับ

[A Sermon on Patisangkhanakatha, Given by Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya on the Occasion of the Royal Merit-Making Ceremony of His Majesty’s Auspicious Anniversary. February 20, R. S. 127. First Edition. 1,500 Copies]

Bangkok: โรงพิมพ์ศุภการจำรูญ [Supakarn Chamroon Printing House] R. S. 127. [probably 1909, and wrongly dated 1910 under the English Title].

Large 8º, inserted title in English and Thai, blank, title, 21 pp., blank, original yellow wrappers with printed title on the cover, stapled (staples rusty and cracked, light age-toning and water staining to the margins of wrappers, otherwise a clean and seemingly unread example).

References: OCLC 702570613 (without listed libraries); Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, Volume 64, 1910; Revue Internationale de Sinologie, 1910, p. 308; Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, Lembaga Kebudajaan Indonesia, Notulen van de algemeene en directie-vergaderingen, Volume 48, 1911, p. XV; École française d’Extrême-Orient, Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient, Volume 10, 1910, p. 264.

2. A Sermon preached by H. R. H. Prince Vajiranana at Wat Arun (Wat Cheng) an old temple on the west side of the river, at a service held on the completion of a reign of 40 years by H. M. King Chulalonkorn November 12. 1909. In memory of this event a new Uposatha and vihara had been built in the temple ground for those previously destroyed by fire.

พระรัฐประศาสนนัย. ปัจฉิมภาค. เทศนา พิเศษ พระเจ้าน้องยาเธอ กรมหลวงวชิรญาณวโรรส ถวาย ในการพระราชพิธีรัชมังคลาภิเษก. วันที่ ๑๗ พฤศจิกายน ร.ศ. ๑๒๗. พิมพ์โดย พระบรมราชโองการ. พิมพ์ครั้งแรก ๒๐๐๐ ฉบับ

[Royal Administration. The Final Sermon. Special Sermon by His Royal Highness Prince Vajirananavarorasa at the Royal Coronation Ceremony. Offered. November 17, R. S. 127. Printed by Royal Command. First Edition. 2,000 Copies]

Bangkok: โรงพิมพ์บำรุงนุกูลกิจ [Bamrung Nukunkit Printing House] 1909.

Large 8º, inserted title in English and Thai, blank, title, 38 pp., blank, original pink wrappers with printed title on the cover, stapled (staples rusty, paper slightly stained around staples, front cover detached in the area of staples, light age-toning and water staining to the margins of wrappers, internally good, clean uncut example).