Research Presentation on Khom Script Manuscripts at JAIBS

Dr. Suchada Srisetthaworakul, Head of the Center for the Study of Ancient Manuscripts, delivered a presentation titled “Unraveling the Origins of the Pali Canon in Khom Script Manuscripts Found in Thailand and Cambodia” at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tokyo, as part of the Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies (JAIBS) conference. This conference is one of the largest and most inclusive academic gatherings specializing in Indian philosophy and Buddhist studies.

The 2nd Intensive Workshop on Textual Criticism of Pali Cannon

From August 22 to 29, 2016, the Dhammachai Tipiṭaka Project at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani organized the Second Intensive Workshop on the Textual Criticism of the Pali Canon. The workshop featured Professor Oskar von Hinüber as a distinguished guest scholar, while Dr. Alexander Wynne, a member of the DTP, also contributed to the sessions. Professor von Hinüber provided invaluable insights and recommendations, particularly on issues variant readings in palm-leaf manuscripts.

Participating and Delivering a Lecture

On July 14, 2016, Thai and international staff of the project participated in the academic seminar entitled “Ancient Manuscripts in Contemporary Contexts: Preservation Work and Technical Challenges” (Old Manuscripts in the Modern World), held at the main auditorium of Silpakorn University, Wang Tha Phra Campus.

On this occasion, Thai representatives from the project delivered lectures on related topics. Dr. Bunchird Chawarithreonglith presented on “Palm-leaf Tipiṭaka Manuscripts in Sri Lanka and Myanmar,” while Dr. Suchada Srisetthaworakul delivered a lecture on “Khom Script Tipiṭaka Palm-leaf Manuscripts in Thailand and Cambodia.”

Conference Presentation on Tham Script Studies (LLS2016)

"On January 18–19, 2016, Ms. Rachanee Pornsi, a Thai researcher with the Dhammachai Tipiṭaka Project, presented her paper entitled “The Inheritance of Tham Script from the Lanna Kingdom” at the Third International Conference on Language, Literature, and Society (LLS2016), held at the Bangkok Hotel Lotus Sukhumvit in Bangkok.

Her presentation explored the cultural boundaries of the Lanna region, emphasizing the shared use of the Dhamma script across different areas for the inscription of Buddhist literature."

Training on "A Local Script of Tham Isan"

The Center for the Studies of Ancient Manuscripts (CSAM) conducted a training program on "A Local Script of Tham Isan" at the Research Library. The resource speakers for this program included Assistant Professor Dr. Rachan Nilawannapha, Assistant Professor Samai Wannaudonm, and Mr. Narongsak Ravarin from the Palm-leaf Manuscript Preservation in Northeast, Mahasarakham University. The primary objective of this training was to enrich participants' understanding of the ancient scripts employed in northeastern manuscripts.

TRC Research Presentation at CGS 2015

On October 12–13, 2015, Ms. Rachanee Pornsi, a Thai researcher at the Tipiṭaka Research Center (TRC), presented her paper, “An Analytical Study of Āyu and Factors Leading to Its Degeneration and Regeneration in Buddhism,” at the Canadian International Conference on Global Studies (CGS 2015), held at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, and organized by Unique Conference Canada.

Buddhist Text and Images: New Evidence from Kanaganahalli

Renowned Indologist, Professor Oskar von Hinüber, delivered a presentation on the topic of "Buddhist Text and Images: New Evidence from Kanaganahalli." During his talk, he unveiled fresh evidence from the excavation site at Kanaganahalli, which can be traced back to the period between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD. This discovery uncovered the significance of an ancient Buddhist Mahastupa site, shedding light on the history and importance of this Buddhist site.

The 1st Intensive Workshop on Textual Criticism of the P?li Canon

The Tipiṭaka Research Center (TRC) organized the inaugural "Intensive Workshop on Textual Criticism of the P?li Canon" at the Dhammachai Tipiṭaka Project, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Pathum Thani. This 10-day program featured Professor von Hinüber as a special guest. On the first day, Dr. Alexander Wynne provided an overview of DTP, emphasizing its goals and theoretical foundations. Dr. Bunchird Chaowarithreonglith discussed manuscript digitization and metadata, while Dr. Suchada Srisetthaworakul presented information technology programs and future plans for online access. From July 9th to 16th, researchers from Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka covered various topics, including manuscript repositories, scribal issues, manuscript selection, and philological problems. On July 16th, Professor von Hinüber delivered a special lecture on "The Verb Form addhabhavi as a Text Critical Problem."

Participation in the Seminar on Inscriptions (11th–18th Century)

DTP members participated in a seminar entitled “Insights from Inscriptions: Inscriptions from the 11th to the 18th Century,” organized by the Manuscripts and Inscriptions Group at the National Library of Thailand, held at the main conference hall of the National Library in Bangkok.

The 17th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies

During the 17th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, held at the University of Vienna, Austria, Dr. Alexander Wynne delivered a lecture on 'The critical edition of the P?li canon being prepared at Wat Phra Dhammak?ya.' His presentation encompassed an overview of DTP's work, including manuscript digitization, computer programs, methods for selecting manuscripts, and the approach to creating a critical edition. Dr. Wynne also discussed the editorial policy established for the Tipiṭaka project as a whole.