Handing-Over Ceremony for Japan

(unofficial translation)

Royal Dhamma Message Royal Emblem

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand has graciously accepted to be the Publication Chairman of the Sajjhāya Recitation Tipiṭaka Editions; namely, the King Bhumibol Adulyadej Edition (Pāḷi Transliteration Manuscript) and Queen Sirikit Edition (Pāḷi Transcription Notation) because of the following:

Both editions of the Tipiṭaka will be useful for correct Pāḷi phonetic pronunciation in accordance with the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka Grammar. The World Tipiṭaka Foundation has respectfully undertaken this publication in honour of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, as well as, to present this commemorative collection to institutions at home and abroad, is therefore, an act of meritorious deeds which will be greatly rejoiced and anumodhanā.

His Royal Highness wishes that this publication which is a highly esteemed commemoration to Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, will benefit a great many people and thus fulfilling its publication wholesome endeavours.

Signed

Vajiralongkorn*

Amphorn Sathan Throne Hall

6 July B.E. 2559 (2016)

*His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X, Kingdom of Thailand

Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand during Their Royal State Visit to Japan as royal guests of Their Imperial Emperor Shōwa and Empress Nagako Kuni of Japan

The Special Presentation of the World Tipiṭaka Saj-jhā-ya Phonetic Recitation, King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit Commemorative 2016 Editions: A Gift of Peace and Wisdom for All, is part of the celebrations for the 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Maha Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on 28 July 2024. These editions will be presented, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the World Tipiṭaka Foundation, to carefully chosen designated libraries, institutions and organizations in 36 countries, especially those that received Royal State Visits by Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother.

Handing-Over Ceremony The Saj-jʰā-ya Phonetic Recitation Tipiṭaka : The King’s and the Queen’s Edition, 80 Vols. From the Kingdom of Thailand to The National Diet Library of Japan, Kansai-kan 19 November 2024

Handing-Over Speech by Mr. Akrapong Chalermnon, Consul-General, The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Osaka, Japan

Unofficial Translation from Japanese by Mr. Junishi Konishi Chairman, Dhamma Society Fund Japan

On behalf of the Royal Thai Consul-General in Osaka, I am especially honoured to hand-over the World Tipiṭaka Sajjhāya Phonetic : The King’s Edition (Pāli Phonetic Alphabet Manuscript), 40 vols., and the Queen’s Edition (Pāli Monotone Music Notation), 40 vols., totally in 80-volume sets, to the National Diet Library of Japan, Kansai-kan, today.

The World Tipiṭaka Sajjhāya Phonetic Edition was published for the first time in 2016 by the World Tipiṭaka Foundation as a special commemorative publication in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother on the 70th anniversary of H.M. King Rama IX of Thailand’s accession to the throne. The Sajjhāya Phonetic Tipiṭaka Publication was graciously presided over by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of Thailand.

Sajjhāya is a Roman-Script Transcription from the Pāḷi dialect in the Tipiṭaka. It means an accurate replication of the Pāḷi recitation sound. This Sajjāya edition is an innovation in electronic database technology printing in the Tipiṭaka, the phonetic alphabet, as well as the phonetic symbols, namely the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka Monotone Music Notation (The World’s First Tipiṭaka Saj-jʰā-ya Syllabic Segmentation Patent Program No. 46390-2016).

The inauguration of the 80-volume Sajjhāya Phonetic Tipiṭaka Edition in 2024 is being carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassies around the world. This official dissipation is a celebration of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, 28 July 2024. The presentation of the Sajjhāya Phonetic Tipiṭaka Edition will be given as a gift of Peace and Wisdom from Thailand to no less than 30 countries around the world, which Their Majesties the King Father and the Queen Mother made their Royal State Visit throughout their auspicious long reign.

The National Diet Library of Japan is one of the great international libraries with the most advanced electronic bibliographical system. It had received the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka in Syām-Script Transliteration 1893 Edition as a royal gift from King Chulalongkorn Chulachomklao of Syām and recently, the World Tipiṭaka in Roman-Script Transliteration 2005 Edition from Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, Honorary President of the World Tipiṭaka Project as well as The Royal Matriarch of King Rama IX, who was in 2023 was entitled the UNESCO Eminent Personality of the World.

In 2008, Her Royal Highness Chulabhorn presided over the Roman-Script presentation to 18 important international institutions in Japan, including the National Diet Library, Kansai-kan.

The Tipiṭaka is a Wisdom Heritage of Humankind — an act of preservation as well as propagation, and research study brings peace and prosperity to people and society.

Finally, may the meritorious dissemination of the World Tipiṭaka Sajjāya Phonetic Edition, bring Peace and Wisdom to all Humankind.

Next, all honoured guests are invited to listen to the Sajjhāya Recitation in the original sound as well as translations into Thai and Japanese by representatives from the World Tipiṭaka Foundation. Last but not least, we would like to thank the generous benefactors of the digital printing of the special 80-volume set from Thailand who have kindly supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in making this meritorious endeavour possible.

Thank you