The World Tipiṭaka Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Project Unveiled
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand has joined with the World Tipiṭaka Foundation in distributing the World Tipiṭaka : The Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Commemorative Publication, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM Queen Sirikit 2016 Edition to no less than 30 countries in celebration of HM King Vajiralongkorn's 72nd birthday on July 28, 2024
Thailand was the first country to print and distribute the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka (The Buddhist Cannon), sending it as a royal gift of Dhamma from, then, the Kingdom of Syām, by sea to 150 organisations in 25 countries in 1893 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao, Rama V. It was well organised by the Ministry of Syām Foreign Affairs and this special first edition has been well preserved at Sweden's Uppasala University Library, Princeton University Library in USA and no less than 30 universities and libraries across Japan.
During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulayadej, Rama IX, the World Tipiṭaka Project also published the Tipiṭaka in Roman-Script Transliteration, entitled the Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka B.E. 2500 (1957) and disseminated internationally. The Pāḷi text was based on the world's Sangha resolution of the Great Internation Tipiṭaka Council, convened in Yangon, old Myanmar. This 40-volume edition is known to be the world's most complete Roman-Script edition and has been available online since 2008 by permission of the Dhamma Society Fund's the World Tipiṭaka Project at suttacentral.net.
The World Tipiṭaka Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Transcription, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit 2016 Edition is the first edition in phonetic transcription that uses digital technology as well as phonetic symbols and international musical notes to ensure accurate Pāḷi pronunciation. It was launched in 2016 to commemorate the King of Thailand, Rama IX's 70 years on the throne.
An event marking the latest distribution project was presided over by Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa on Tuesday. Thanpuying Varaporn Pramoj Na Ayudhya, president of World Tipiṭaka Foundation, ambassadors and representatives from various organisations also attended. A panel discussion titled "Intriguing Insights of the Tipiṭaka" was organised.
Assoc Prof Sasi Phongsarayut, Ph.D., the chief creator of the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka Notation and chair of the Western Music Department, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said the Sajjhāya Recitation Tipiṭaka Edition was based on the syllabic segmentation computer program and thus can transcribe the Kaccāyana Pāḷi Grammar of the original Pāḷi language in musical notation par excellent.
The standard edition, the Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Tipiṭaka, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM Queen Sirikit, each consisting of 40 volumes, are the world's first Tipiṭaka sets designed in special fonts for accurate Pāḷi Tipiṭaka recitation. (There are 4 additional versions, 250 volumes each for Pāḷi Notation available in digital format for scholarly research.)
The King's edition uses Syām-Script in Pāḷi phonetic orthographic writing while the Queen's edition uses Pāḷi monotone music notation for precise syllabic segmentation (see the World Tipiṭaka Patent No.46390-2017).
The Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Tipiṭaka will be given as a gift of Peace and Wisdom to leading international libraries, institutes or organisations in countries which already receive the Syām-Script 1893 edition a century ago. It will be presented this year to countries where His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother made Their Royal State Visits during their auspicious long reign.
Furthermore, it will also be given to countries with which Thailand has friendly ties, as well as the United Nations Headquarters in New York and UNESCO in Paris to honour His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, Rama X, who graciously presided over as the Royal Chairman of the Sajjhāya Phonetic Recitation Publicatio.
This commemorative publication on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary will also enhance the high-level cultural diplomacy between the Kingdom of Thailand and other countries as well as showcasing the World Tipiṭaka Studies in an academic interdisciplinary context which is more universally accessible to all.
Please see Sajjhaya.org
and
The Bangkok Post
18 July 2024
Download : The Syām-Script Tipiṭaka Anthology
Download : The World Tipiṭaka Anthology
Download : The Saj-jhā-ya Phonetic Recitation Tipiṭaka
Download : The World Tipiṭaka Monotone Music Notation
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