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Asoka Pillar Award
Name of an honorary Thai award that
recognises individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions
to
Buddhism.
Fully
known as the Asoka Pillar Award for Moral Leadership, its purpose is to publicly commend
them as exemplary figures and encourage others to follow their example. The
award is inspired by the pillars of Emperor
Asoka (fig.),
which symbolise the flourishing and spread of Buddhism. Recipients are regarded
as ‘Pillars of Buddhism’, reflecting their role in upholding and promoting the
religion. The ceremony is held annually during
Visakha Bucha at the Buddhist Promotion
Center of Thailand, under the patronage of the
Supreme Patriarch,
with Princess
Sohmsawalih presiding over the
presentation. The award itself is a gilded pillar based on the
Asoka Pillar
design (fig.),
featuring symbolic elements such as four
lions
representing the proclamation of the
Dharma,
the
Dharmachakra (fig.)
or
Wheel of Law
(fig.),
and
lotus
petals symbolising purity. Established in 2015, the award honours both monastics
and laypeople across nine categories, including business, education, media,
government, arts, youth, organisations, and religious figures, recognising
diverse contributions to Buddhism and promoting moral leadership in Thai society.
In Thai, known in short as Rahngwan
Sao
Asohk (รางวัลเสาอโศก),
i.e. ‘Asoka Pillar Award’, and in full as Rahngwan Sao Asohk Phu Nahm Sihn Tham
(รางวัลเสาอโศกผู้นำศีลธรรม), meaning ‘Asoka Pillar Moral Leader Award’ or ‘Asoka
Pillar Award for Moral Leadership’. See also
Sema Dhammachakra Award.
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