Sema Dhammachakra Award

Name of a prestigious Thai honour bestowed upon individuals and organisations that have rendered outstanding service to Buddhism. Established in 1982, it is regarded as one of the highest forms of recognition for contributions to the promotion, preservation, and dissemination of Buddhist teachings in Thailand. The award takes the form of a symbolic pillar surmounted by the Dharmachakra (fig.) or Wheel of Law, representing both the propagation of the Buddha's teachings and the role of recipients as pillars of the Buddhist community. The wheel features 12 spokes, symbolising the twelve links of dependent origination, which describe the cycle of cause and effect that leads to suffering and rebirth. These links explain how ignorance gives rise to mental formations, consciousness, and ultimately to ageing, death, and continued existence in samsara. The award is presented annually during the national celebrations of Visakha Bucha, as part of Buddhist Promotion Week, in a royal ceremony traditionally presided over by Princess Maha Chakri Sirinthon (fig.). Administered by the Department of Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Culture, the award is conferred only once upon each recipient and spans multiple categories, including Buddhist education, religious practice, cultural preservation, social development, and media. It serves both to honour exemplary contributions and to encourage moral leadership and continued support for Buddhism in Thai society. In Thai, known as Rahngwan Sao Sema Dharmachakra (รางวัลเสาเสมาธรรมจักร), which loosely translates to ‘Award of the Sacred Boundary Pillar and Wheel of Law’. See also Asoka Pillar Award. 回