Phra Maha Kanachan Chin Thammasamadhiwat (Yen Tek) (Thai: พระมหาคณาจารย์จีนธรรมสมาธิวัตร (เย็นเต็ก); Chinese: 仁得）(25 March 193630 March 2023) was a Thai Buddhist monk of the minority Thai Chinese Mahayana tradition. he served as the seventh supreme patriarch of the Chinese Sangha of Thailand, and was the abbot of Wat Phothiwihan Khunaram (Wat Phothi Man Khunaram). He was also the founding patriarch of Wat Meun Phuttha Metta Khunaram and Wat Phutthakhun temples.Hsu, Kuo-lung (2014). A Research on Chinese Buddhism in Thailand: A Case Study of Chinese Buddhist Sect Bhoman-Khunaram Temple. Hsuan Chuang University, Department of Religious Studies. Advisor: Huang, Yun-hsi. Published in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. In Chinese. Hsuan Chuang University website.
Yen Tek was born with the lay name Veera Bodhichanprasert in Kanchanaburi Province in 1936. He was the son of Thai Chinese Teochew parents, surnamed Chen (แซ่ตั้ง), whose ancestral roots are from Jieyang, Guangdong.
On 7 May 1950, he was ordained as a monk at Wat Pho Yen, in Tha Maka District, Kanchanaburi Province. His preceptor was Phra Maha Kanachan Chin Thamma Samathiwat (Bodhi-Jaeng). Upon ordination, he received the Chinese Dharma name Yen Tek. After his ordination, he studied and practiced the Dharma under his teacher and assisted in the construction of Wat Phothi Man Khunaram until its completion. When his preceptor died in 1986, he succeeded him as abbot. He formally received a royal appointment from King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1988 as the Supreme Patriarch of the Chinese Sangha of Thailand.Liu, Yaoping. "The History of Jin Nikāya in Thailand: A Preliminary Study from a Socio-political Perspective." Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies, vol. 33, no. 4, 2020, pp. 121–170. Accessed 23 May 2025. He was granted several ecclesiastical ranks following his appointment as supreme patriarch.ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่องพระราชทานสัญญาบัตรตั้งสมณศักดิ์บรรพชิตจีนนิกาย, ฉบับพิเศษ, เล่ม 87 ตอนที่ 122, 31 ธันวาคม 2513, หน้า 24ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่องพระราชทานสัญญาบัตรตั้งสมณศักดิ์บรรพชิตจีนนิกาย, ฉบับพิเศษ, เล่ม 99 ตอนที่ 184, 17 ธันวาคม 2525, หน้า 37ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่องพระราชทานสัญญาบัตรตั้งสมณศักดิ์บรรพชิตจีนนิกาย, ฉบับพิเศษ, เล่ม 104 ตอนที่ 253, 5 ธันวาคม 2530, หน้า 62 In the same year, he made a pilgrimage to the Ladakh Plateau in India, where he received tantric teachings from a tulku. There, he was confirmed as a Vajra Ācārya and returned to Thailand to promote harmony between the Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna teachings.
Yen Tek died at Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital in Bangkok on 30 March 2023, at 10:50 AM. He was 87 years old and had served as a monk for 66 years.
Administrative Positions
1968, Deputy Abbot of Wat Pho Man Khunaram 1969, Preceptor 1970, Assistant Secretary of the Chinese Sect 1973, Member of the Chinese Sect Committee 1978, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Sect Committee and Secretary to the Grand Abbot of the Chinese Sect 1982, Deputy Grand Abbot of the Chinese Sect 1986, Acting on behalf of the Grand Abbot of the Chinese Sect 1986, Acting on behalf of the Grand Abbot of the Chinese Sect 1987, Acting on behalf of the Grand Abbot of the Chinese Sect 1985 1987, Chairman of the Chinese Sangha Committee 1987, Abbot of Wat Pho Man Khunaram 1997, Acting Abbot of Wat Muen Phuttha Metta Khunaram
Ecclesiastical titles In 1968, he was appointed as Luang Chin Winai Thon (Yentek) Number of titles in Phrakhanachan Chin Thammasamadhiwat (Pho Chaeng) In 1970, he was granted a royal warrant to appoint him as Luang Chin Thammarak Chin Prachit, assistant to the left secretary.Royal Gazette, Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office on the Granting of a Royal Warrant to Appoint the Ecclesiastical Title of Chinese Sect Monks, Special Edition, Volume 87, Part 122, 31 December 1970, Page 24 In 1982, he was granted a royal warrant to appoint him as Phra Ajahn Chin Thammakhanathikan Paisarn SamanakitRoyal Gazette, Prime Minister's Office Announcement on the Granting of a Certificate of Appointment of Chinese Sect Monks, Special Issue, Volume 99, Part 184, 17 December 1982, Page 37 Can appoint 3 monks (equal to the third-class royal monks) In 1987, received a royal certificate of appointment of the ecclesiastical title as Phra Khanajan Chin Thammasamadhiwat, Phutthaphachon Chin Neta'' Can appoint 5 monksRoyal Gazette, Prime Minister's Office Announcement [Regarding the granting of a royal certificate of appointment to the Chinese sect monk title, Special Issue, Volume 104, Part 253, December 5, 1987, Page 62 (equal to the Phra Rajakhana rank of Thep) In 1992, received a royal certificate of appointment to the ecclesiastical title of Phra Khanajan Chin Thammasamatiwat, Buddhist group of China Vineta, Sadhuchan Thammaprasit, Boromanarisaranuwat, appointed 5 members of the bibliography.Royal Gazette, Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office [Regarding the granting of a royal certificate of appointment to the Chinese sect monk title, Special Issue, Volume 109, Part 155, December 5, 1992, Page 64 (equal to the special class of the royal monks) In 1996, received a royal certificate of appointment to the title of Phra Khanajan Chin Thammasamatiwat, Buddhist group of China Pinet Witesatham Prasit Boromanarinnuwat, appointed 6 persons as a nominator.Royal Gazette, Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office [Regarding the granting of a royal certificate to appoint Chinese monks, Volume 113, Part 23, 5 December 1996, Page 68 (equal to Phra Rajakhana rank of Dharma) 1999 - Received a royal certificate to promote the ecclesiastical rank to Phra Mahakhana Chin Tham Samadhiwat Chinese Buddhist Association Phinet Witesatham Prasat Navakitpilas Prayuk Tanukchin Prachawisit''' with a number of 6 persons who can appoint a number of novices.Royal Gazette, Prime Minister's Office Announcement Regarding the granting of a royal certificate to appoint Chinese monks, Volume 116, Part 23, 27 December 1999, Page 55 (equal to Phra Rajakhana rank of Dharma Special)
References