Thathanabaing of Burma

The Thathanabaing of Burma (Burmese: သာသနာပိုင်, also spelt Thathanapaing) served as the head of the Buddhist Sangha (order of monks) in pre-colonial Burma, until its abolishment in 1938 by the British authorities in colonial Burma. The Thathanapaing was responsible for managing the monastic hierarchy and education at monasteries. The Thathanabaing resided in a royal monastery near the kingdom's capital. However, appointees were usually commoners born in the villages, with no blood relationship with the royal house. Their appointments were made on the basis of their mastery of Buddhist knowledge and literature.

Thathanabaing, literally 'Keeper of the Sāsana', is the native Burmese rendition of Sangharaja, or formally Mahasangharaja (မဟာသံဃာရာဇာ), which is typically rendered into English as 'Primate', 'Archbishop' or 'Supreme Patriarch.' The term "Sangharaja" was popularly used from the 1300s to 1400s, but lost currency in subsequent centuries. By the Konbaung dynasty, Thathanabaing and Thathanapyu (သာသနာပြု) were frequently used.

According to Burmese chronicles, the office of the Thathanabaing dates to the reign of Swa Saw Ke (1367-1400). British historians recognize a lineage of primates during the Pagan Kingdom, beginning with the monk Shin Arahan.

Konbaung dynasty

The election of the Thathanapaing in 1902 was held at the Thudhamma and Pahtan Zayats near Mandalay Hill.

The office, in its last incarnation, was established by King Bodawpaya in 1784, after the constitution of the Sudhamma Council, a council of four elder monks (thera), of which the Thathanabaing was its head. Subsequent monarchs expanded the Council, which varied from 8 to 12 members called sadaw. Council members were appointed by the king and styled Dazeitya Sayadaw (တံဆိပ်ရဆရာတော်, 'Teachers Possessing the Seal').

The Thathanabaing was appointed by the king and granted supreme authority with regard to religious doctrine and ecclesiastical administration. The Thathanapaing was responsible for the kingdom's religious affairs, including appointment of monastery abbots, monk orders according to the Vinaya, management of breaches of discipline, preparation of an annual report of the order, and administration of Pali examinations.

The Thathanabaing was charged with managing the functions of two government officials, the Mahadan Wun (မဟာဒါန်ဝန်, Ecclesiastical Censor), who oversaw the king's charitable functions, ensured monk compliance with the Vinaya, and submitted registers of all active novices and monks, and the Wutmye Wun (ဝတ်မြေဝန်), who managed the wuttukan-designated religious properties (ဝတ္ထုကံမြေ), including donated land and pagodas. The Burmese kingdom was divided into ecclesiastical jurisdictions, each of which was overseen by a gaing-gyok. Underneath each gaing-gyok was a number of gaing-ok, who were in turn assisted by a number of gaing-dauk. Ecclesiastical disputes were settled by the gaing-gyok and decisions for appeal were made by the Sudhamma Council.

Colonial rule

Procession of the Taunggwin Sayadaw at his installation as Thathanabaing of Upper Burma in 1903.

In 1895, soon after the abdication of the country's last king, Thibaw Min, the Taungdaw Sayadaw, then the Thathanapaing of Burma, died. A subsequent election elected the Pakhan Sayadaw as Thathanabaing-elect, although the British refused to acknowledge or recognize his title.

In 1903, the lieutenant-governor of British Burma, Hugh Shakespear Barnes, reinstated the title by sanad charter, giving the Thathanapaing nominal authority over internal administration of the Sangha in Upper Burma and over Buddhist ecclesiastical law. (Lower Burma, which had been annexed in 1852, remained without a religious head.) The Taunggwin Sayadaw was appointed, but the position was abolished after his death and no successor was ever appointed.

Kingdom of Ava

1. Yakhaing Sayadaw
2. Amyint Sayadaw

Konbaung dynasty

1. Atula Sayadaw
2. Taungdwingyi Sayadaw
3. Sayit Sayadaw
4. Ashin Thapon
5. Hteintabin Sayadaw
6. Manle Sayadaw
7. Min-o Sayadaw
8. Zonta Sayadaw
9. Minywa Sayadaw
10. Maungdaung Sayadaw
11. Salin Sayadaw
12. The-in Sayadaw
13. Maungdaung Sayadaw
14. Bagaya Sayadaw
15. Maungdaung Sayadaw
16. Taungdaw Sayadaw

British rule

1. Moeta Sayadaw
2. Taunggwin Sayadaw