The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXIV, Part 1-2, 1976 - Khamkoo

Property or U.1o
Siam Society's Library
BANGKOK
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MONKS AND HIEHARCHY IN NORTHERN THAILAND 113
Phra That Doi Suthep, perched high upon the mountain of the same
name that overlooks the city of Chiengmai below, often seems symbolically
to dominate both the Sangha and the skyline as well, its lights
visible at night. Before, however, we discuss his specific powers and
concerns, we should digress a bit to explain that in our portrait of the
hierarchy so far, we have left out any discussion of a system of royal
honorary titles that complements but does not always exactly parallel
the administrative hierarchy. The Chao Khana Changwat, for example,
while holding the highest office in the province, also holds the highest
honorary title (Thep), sharing this mark of royal favor only with his
Thammayut counterpart at Chiengmai's Wat Cbedi Luang. A brief
explanation of the Thai monastic honorary system at this point will
serve to reveal some of the further complexities of Sangha organization
and the symbolic representations of basic monastic values which are
reified in the levels and types of honors given.
Tbe Royal Honorary System of Fans
Every year on the King's birthday, announcements are made
award1ng ecclesiastical honors to monks, such honor being in the form
of special titles, certificates, and ceremonial fans which by shape, color,
and design reveal to any informed observer the status of the monk holding
such a fan. Actually very few laymen would be able to tell which
one of the 62 different fans ranked over another, but most monks could
do so,with less difficulty. TI;Jese honorary fans must not be confused
with ordinary fans presented to monks by common laymen on many
types of occasions (to honor an ordination, a deceased monk, a layman's
birthday, a bank opening, etc.). These latter fans can be purchased in
monk's supply stores and can be lettered as the donor wishes, but their
shape is neve~ allowed to imitate that of the honorary fans. Monks
then use these common fans for ritual purposes, such as when sermons
are given or when special chanting is done. At such times the monk
holds the fan before his face to block it from his audience's view.
Honorary fans, however, are only given by the King or his representative,
and they are always accompanied by the. award of a title that
involves a change of name for the monk- the new name usually chosen