World Tipiṭaka Presentation Japan 2008

Shitenoji, Osaka
September 10-13, 2008

Today (10 September 2008) Osaka, Japan at 1430 hrs. Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand arrived at the 1,400 year old Temple of Shitennoji, the oldest Buddhist establishment in Japan, to preside over the World Tipiṭaka Presentation from Thailand to fourteen leading institutions in Japan. The ceremony was organised by Japan Theravāda Buddhist Association and Dhamma Society Thailand.

The World Tipiṭaka Presentation follows the royal wishes of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadahana, the Royal Matriarch of Thailand, who initiated the Tipiṭaka Donation to present the Roman-script edition to institutions worldwide. The World Tipiṭaka Presentation this year in Japan was given as a gift of Dhamma, a gesture of goodwill from the people of Thailand to the people of Japan. The World Tipiṭaka Presentation by HRH Princess Chulabhorn was the first Tipiṭaka presentation organised in Japan.

During the presentation ceremony, Air Marshall Chalit Pookpasuk, Chief Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force in a capacity of the Chairman of the Organising Committee, assisted Her Royal Highness in handing over the Tipiṭaka volumes to all the recipients.

Tipiṭaka is collection of the Buddha's words preserved in Pāḷi language of the old Indian subcontinent. Published in 40 volumes in 2005 by Dhamma Society in Bangkok, it was the first time that the entire manuscript from the Buddhist Era 2500 (1957) International Tipiṭaka Council has been published in Roman script.

Upon arrival, Princess Chulabhorn was escorted to the historic hall built by Prince Shotogu of Japan over a thousand years ago, where the 2008 recipients of the World Tipiṭaka were introduced to Her Royal Highness. It was one of the important gatherings of leaders from prestigious academic and cultural institutions in Japan.

In the royal address, Princess Chulabhorn said that the World Tipiṭaka is a Heritage of Wisdom which has been propagated for the happiness of humanity. The presentation in Japan follows royal donation of King Chulalongkorn of Siam, Princess Chulabhorn's Great Grandfather. After the speech, the Princess presented a symbolic Volume 29 (Dhammasangani, the summary of all the Dhammas) to presidents and representatives of 14 universities and international institutions in Japan.

Shitennoji was also the origin of the Japanese Imperial Court Music and Dance which has been preserved until today. Japanese Tipiṭaka Patrons also arranged the ancient music of Shitennoji to be performed during the procession bringing the royal gift of the World Tipiṭaka into the ceremony hall.

The World Tipiṭaka Presentation is part of Princess Galyani's Tipiṭaka Endowment Project organised by Ruam Chit Norm Klao Foundation in Thailand.